Dean Cooper serves as Assistant Coach for Arkansas State University's Men's Basketball program in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Arkansas State men's basketball head coach Ryan Pannone announced the hiring of assistant coach Dean Cooper to his 2025-26 staff on June 20, 2025. Cooper returns to coaching following two years as the owner, consultant, and coach for Cooper Sports Properties LLC.
He's coached the best players in the world for a long time, and he's seen the way that great teams are developed and the way that great players are developed. In his first season, the team ranked fourth nationally for offensive free throw rate and 37th for non-steal turnover percentage. In 2022-23, UTRGV ranked inside the top five for pace (fifth), offensive free throw rate (second), offensive rim rate (third), and defensive three-point impact (1st). Prior to his time in Edinburg, Texas, Cooper spent 21 years working at the professional level.
