AJ Cooper was promoted in January of 2019 to serve as Wyoming’s new defensive run-game coordinator. He will also continue to coach the Cowboy defensive ends and coordinate Wyoming’s special teams. Cooper will enter his sixth season at Wyoming in 2019. He came to Wyoming after serving as a member of the North Dakota State coaching staff the previous eight seasons. His coaching career followed an outstanding playing career for the Bison.
Cooper helped coach a Wyoming defense in 2018 that was among the best in the nation. The Cowboys ranked No. 19 in the nation in total defense (allowing opponents only 326.2 yards per game), were No. 25 in the NCAA in rushing defense (129.5 yards per game), ranked No. 28 in scoring defense (giving up only 22.0 points per game) and were No. 32 in pass defense (196.7 yards per game). The UW defense also ranked No. 16 in the country in fewest first downs allowed to opponents (223). On special teams, Wyoming’s field-goal unit protected kicker Cooper Rothe, who led the nation in field-goal percentage at 94.1 percent (16 of 17). Rothe was named the 2018 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-MW. He also was one of three national finalists for the Lou Groza Award, which is presented each season to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker.
In 2017, Wyoming’s defense ranked No. 1 in the nation in takeaways, forcing 38 opponent turnovers. The Pokes were No. 9 in the country in scoring defense, allowing opponents only 17.5 points per game. UW ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in fumbles recovered (18), No. 2 in the nation in interceptions (20), No. 8 in defensive touchdowns scored (4 TDs), No. 13 in pass defense (174.9 passing yards allowed), and No. 23 in total defense (335.2 total yards allowed).
Cowboy special teams also were among the nation’s best in 2017. UW ranked No. 1 in the nation in kickoff returns (28.3 yards per return) and ranked No. 3 in the Mountain West and No. 30 in the nation in punt returns (10.26 yards per return). The punt return coverage team was also extremely effective, ranking No. 2 in the MW and No. 27 nationally, allowing opponents only 4.72 yards per return. Individually, Cowboy kickoff returner Tyler Hall earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore.
In 2016, several of Cooper’s special teams units excelled. The Cowboys punt team ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 24 in the nation in punt return defense, allowing opponents only 4.62 yards per punt return. That punt unit also averaged 39.34 yards in net punting to rank No. 3 in the conference and No. 31 in the NCAA. Senior punter Ethan Wood was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the second consecutive season. The kick return team was also very effective, averaging 22.24 yards per return to rank No. 4 in the MW and No. 41 nationally. Wyoming senior kick returner D.J. May earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors in voting by conference head coaches and media. May averaged 27.9 yards each time he returned a kickoff, ranking him No. 9 in the nation. May received an invitation to the Detroit Lions rookie camp as a free agent.
On defense, sophomore defensive end Kevin Prosser ranked ninth in the MW in sacks, with 6.5 sacks for the 2016 season. As a unit, the Cowboy defense scored five defensive touchdowns to rank No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 3 in the nation. Wyoming recovered 12 opponent fumbles, ranking No. 1 in the MW and No. 15 in the NCAA. The Cowboys’ 15 interceptions were second best in the conference and 22nd nationally. UW’s 27 total forced turnovers ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 10 in the country.
The 2015 season saw Wyoming senior defensive end Eddie Yarbrough earn Second Team All-Mountain West honors. Yarbrough was named to both the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List and the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List as a junior and senior. He concluded his UW playing career as the all-time leader in tackles for loss, with 39, and ranked ninth all-time in career sacks at Wyoming, with 21.5. Yarbrough signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos following the 2016 NFL Draft. Punter Wood was named to the 2015 Ray Guy Award Watch List for the first time in his college career. Several special teams’ units also performed well in 2015. The kickoff coverage team ranked No. 1 in the MW, allowing opponents 21.3 yards per kickoff return, and the punt coverage team ranked No. 2 in the conference and No. 21 nationally, giving up only 4.6 yards per punt return. The Cowboys averaged 23.5 yards per kick return to rank No. 5 in the league and No. 29 in the nation, and the Pokes averaged 38.6 yards as a team in net punting to rank No. 5 in the MW and No. 40 in the country. Kick returner May averaged 26.2 yards per kickoff return to rank No. 4 in the conference and No. 24 in the NCAA.
In 2014, Cooper also coached defensive end Yarbrough, who earned First Team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a junior.
From 2009 through 2013, Cooper coached the Bison defensive ends. In 2013, he added special teams to his coaching responsibilities. He helped NDSU to a 43-2 (.956) overall record and a 22-2 (.917) Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) mark on way to its three consecutive FCS national titles. The 2013 NDSU squad became the first undefeated (15-0) FCS National Champion since Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title. That 15-0 record by the Bison also set a North Dakota State school record. NDSU extended its winning streak to 24 consecutive games with the 2013 FCS Championship. That tied both the FCS and NDSU records for consecutive victories. The University of Pennsylvania set the FCS record of 24 consecutive wins from 1992-95. Montana later tied the record from 2001-02. The NDSU record was originally set from 1964-66.
As the defensive ends coach at North Dakota State, Cooper helped the Bison rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense for three consecutive seasons (2011-13), holding opponents to only 12.7 points per game in 2011, 11.5 points per game in 2012 and only 11.3 points per game in 2013.
The 2013 Bison defense also ranked: No. 3 in the FCS in total defense (255.9 yards per game); No. 2 in the nation in pass efficiency defense (97.59 rating); No. 3 in rushing defense (91.3 yards allowed per game); and No. 8 in passing yards allowed (164.6 yards per game).
In addition to leading the nation in scoring defense in 2012, NDSU: led the nation in total defense (234.5 yards allowed per game); was No. 1 in fewest first downs allowed (12.67 per game); ranked No. 2 in pass defense (140.6 yards allowed per game); and ranked No. 4 in rushing defense (93.9 yards allowed per game).
Prior to becoming the defensive ends coach in 2009, Cooper worked with the offensive line and tight ends as a student assistant and graduate assistant with the program from 2006-08.
Prominent players who Cooper coached at North Dakota State included: Coulter Boyer, who in 2011 earned Third Team All-America honors as a defensive end from Beyond Sports College Network and Honorable Mention All-America honors from College Sports Journal. Cooper coached defensive end Cole Jirik, who was a Second Team All-America selection by College Sports Madness in 2012. A third NDSU defensive end who Cooper coached and went on to earn All-Conference recognition was Kyle Emanuel, who was a Second Team All-MVFC selection in 2013.
An outstanding tight end for the Bison in the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Cooper earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Football Gazette in ‘05. He caught 24 passes for 473 yards (19.7 yards per catch) and scored four touchdowns as a senior. He was selected First Team All-Great West Football Conference as a senior, and also earned All-Northwest Region honors.
Following his college playing career, Cooper signed a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers in 2006.
Originally from Phoenix, Ariz., Cooper began his college playing career at Glendale Community College. His final season of junior college, he led all junior college tight ends in three different categories -- receptions (44), receiving yards (578) and touchdown receptions (8).
Cooper earned his bachelor’s degree from NDSU in criminal justice in 2006. He and his wife, Amanda, who is a former NDSU women’s basketball player, were married in July 2011. They have two sons, Carter Johnson and Cameron Myles.