"Xs and Os" Coaches Corner - Andrew Cooper

Image Credit: Hyperfocus Images

We've made it to the third stop of our X's and O's Coaches Corner series, where we catch up with head coaches from around the NBL1 West to get some valuable insights from them. 

This week, we hit the Mitchell Freeway and head north of the river to sit down with multiple gold nedal winning State coach and coach of the Warwick Senators, Andrew Cooper aka Coops. 

Q: 2024 sees you at your third club in five years, having been a long term women's and men's assistant at the Flames after being a former Rocko junior, then your first opportunity as an NBL1 Men's head coach at Cockburn, before heading to the Senate this season to take on the men's HC position up at Warwick. How has that transition been from assistant to head coach, especially given some extremely tough times for you on a personal level away from basketball? 

A: Moving from Rockingham was tough because it had been the only club myself, my wife and my daughters had been a part of our entire lives. It was more because I needed a change, not to take up a head coaching role. Time was the biggest factor holding me back. But in the end some things fell into place and I was able to take the role at Cockburn. The change from assistant to head coach wasn’t really a difficult one because I had learnt so much from Ryan Petrik, Brad Samuelson and numerous other coaches when it came to the tactical side of the game, the scouting of opposition and those kind of things. So I felt I was ready. The biggest change I guess is the type of communication you have with the players. As the AC you are almost an extension of the playing group, a mate even, whereas when you are the HC you have to make the tough decisions, the ones that aren’t always the popular ones and you have a lot more tough conversations. You are obviously dealing with young adults and sometimes high level professional athletes so you need to make sure you know your stuff because the days of baffling kids with BS are over. You’re also the head of the snake when it comes to performance as well as the program holistically. The transition to the HC position at Warwick has been a seamless one considering I wasn’t going to coach at all in 2024. We have had our ups and downs on court which is to be expected with a new group, but overall I can’t thank Mike and Josh, the club, the staff or the playing group enough for welcoming me in and allowing me to coach.

Q: A major part of your coaching journey has been the amazing success you have had in the BWA High Performance State Team Program, winning multiple gold medals at the nationals level whilst also playing a massive role in the development of two current NBL athletes in Luke Travers and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, who have since gone on to become NBL Champions, as well as another elite sportsman in current AFL premiership player and Fremantle Docker Luke Jackson. Can you please describe for us the confidence you must have knowing you have the wood over the perennial powerhouse states like Vic Metro /  Vic Country and Queensland; What do you attribute that to and how have those learnings carried over, if at all, to coaching at NBL1 level? 

A: Well first and foremost, you don’t win anything at any level without talent. Generally the teams with the most talent are the ones that are holding the trophy at the end of the season/tournament. I have been very lucky to coach some incredible talent so I’m not sure how much I have influenced or developed those guys. If I have helped them in some way that’s great but they have put in a lot of hard work in to get where they are and I am very proud of them and what they have already achieved. One thing I did try to teach and instil in them along with all the junior athletes that I coach is respect your team, your team mates and your opposition. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are, if you don’t respect your opposition then it can very quickly bite you in the butt in so many different ways.

I have loved being a part of the BWA system. Coaching our most talented young athletes has been amazing and working with so many great coaches and staff along the way has been an awesome experience. In reference to your question of having the wood over those states (I’m not sure if I do mind you), with any tournament or season, I go into it with the mindset of winning it all. I think the power of positive thinking is a big one and going back to WA as a state, when I first started coaching BWA teams I kept hearing about how good everyone else was and that they all had this element of invincibility (especially Vic Metro). I made it very clear to that team in 2018 at the start of the process that we were going to win Gold and we wouldn’t settle for silver or bronze. Now I don’t know if that worked or not, but I feel if you don’t believe you can achieve something then you never will. Tournament play is a lot different to a season due to length obviously as well as some other factors but I have still tried to carry those same beliefs across to NBL1. Ensuring you pick the right players to fit a system is also important as well as having players that are willing to play a role and have the right attitude. This is especially key in the state teams because most kids are the best in their respective teams and are going from 30+ minutes per game to possibly 10. Can they do this and how will it affect the team? With NBL1 it’s slightly different but the same principles apply. Finding talent is easy, it’s making sure that talent fits your program, your morals, your standards, that is the key.

Q: As we enter Round 14 of the 2024 NBL1 West season, you sit in eighth place on the ladder with a .500 record at nine wins and nine losses, and you lead thelLeague in points for at 1770 - With such a high scoring style of play, what would you identify as the keys to maintaining that brand of basketball as you look to push for a finals spot? What do you see as the biggest challenges for your team as the season heads into its final rounds?

A: As far as maintaining the style we play at the offensive end, as long as we stay fit then we will be fine at that end of the floor. We’ve recruited talent to help us in that area and with high level scorers such as Michael Harris and Todd Withers it makes it a lot easier. Things haven’t worked out with Zac Gattorna because of a serious injury but we have seen the continued development of our young local guys which has been exciting for the club. Add to that the experience and skill set of Cody Ellis and we are confident that if we can stay healthy we will be okay. Our biggest challenge is at the defensive end. A lot of this lies on my shoulders and trying to find the right schemes and tactics to suit the playing group is proving a difficult task. We’ve let a few games slip away where we feel we probably could have and should have won but I think if we can get it right and sneak into finals we can beat anyone.  

Q: Your youngest daughter is just about to enter her final year of College over in the US. As someone with such a strong and successful coaching background with young athletes, how has her journey from WABL player, through to state team player and now into the collegiate system - Impacted you as a coach? Have you ever found it difficult separating Andrew Cooper the coach, to Andrew Cooper the parent - when it comes to Jesni's own basketball journey?

A: First and foremost I am extremely proud of both of my daughters and the strong young women they have become. The adversity they have both overcome to be in the position they are in life amazes me. Seeing Jesni progress through as an athlete and now as a student athlete has been an interesting journey to say the least (and an expensive one). From a coaching perspective, I have seen a huge difference in the way that she has been coached. I have always been one to not interfere with how they have chosen to coach her and at times it’s been difficult but it’s a line that I never crossed. We had our conversations at home together as a family but I always backed the coach in with how they did things. Life in college is a totally different beast and when I was over there visiting recently seeing how things are done in some programs would certainly raise a few eyebrows over here. The level of “care" for the athlete is a lot less than over here. If you aren’t cutting it over there, you’ll sit on the end of the bench until the end of the season and sometimes with no real explanation. As far as the coaching/parent aspect, I’ll admit I had my moments when she was growing up. A few of those car rides with a million questions. Her fighting back even though deep down she knew what I was talking about. But as she's developed as an adult student/athlete it’s been very much all her doing. 

Q: Having personally been able to watch your coaching development over the years and see you as a fantastic mentor for myself personally coaching wise, it's fair to say that like most of us in the coaching ranks, your range of emotions on the sidelines can vary greatly depending on how well your team is executing on-court and seeing a very fired up Coach Cooper is definitely not an uncommon occurrence, but for mine it shows your clear love and passion for the game itself. What's your biggest motivation and drive as a coach, and what advice would you give to young aspiring coaches coming through the system as to maintaining and reaching goals in such a tough and competitive league? 

A: My biggest motivation and drive as a coach? Look I’m not going to lie, winning is a huge driving force for me. As a Head Coach at the NBL1 level, if you can’t settle on that as one of your top 2 or 3 answers then you probably shouldn’t be in that role. A lot of money, time and effort goes into NBL1 and the athletes that are also dedicating a lot of time and effort, want to win. So if I’m not sharing that same drive then I’m doing them and the club a disservice. Now that isn’t my only motivation obviously and coaching junior athletes at state level also adds a another layer of motivation. Seeing and helping athletes achieve what they are striving for is huge for me. Whether it be getting to the next level, getting on the court at NBL1, making it to college or a state team, helping develop the next state or NBL1 coaches, these are all important to me. What I would say to the young coaches coming through, be prepared to work. And this will probably be work that you won’t get paid for. Attend BWA camps, attend clinics, put yourself around coaches and mentors that you trust and can teach you the right way. And don’t be afraid to have your own ideas and voice them. Set your goals high but don’t be afraid to start from the bottom. I see a lot of young people now who want success (at least what they perceive as success) tomorrow, but things take time especially in the coaching world. That’s why the great coaches are still coaching into their 70’s. We are always learning. 

Finally, we have our Ten Quick Responses section to get some answers to life's real problems! 

1) Player or Team Staff Member on your roster with the worst habit / why? 

To be honest these guys are pretty squeaky clean. I’ll say Jezza Fletcher, he’s too efficient. He’s making me look bad.

2) NBL1 West GM Brighton Pass lets you be League GM for a day - Name one change you would make / why?

Allowing video review during the game if there is a discrepancy with the score.

3) Despite a fairytale run through the early stages of the finals, your Senators Men get knocked out of the 2024 Playoffs - Who wins the title & why?

Geraldton, they just refuse to lose.

4) Any pre-game routines or superstitions you have to do before tipoff?

Not really before tip off, but if we get a win I try to replicate everything for the next game. And I mean everything, it’s a little freaky to be honest.

5) Being a fellow Star Wars geek like myself, who's your favourite SW character and why?

Yoda, have you seen how he moves for 1000 years old!!

6) Your fave NBA team and fave player (current or former) from that team?

NBA is not my go to league anymore but gotta stick with my Chicago Bulls and Zach Lavine.

7) GOAT Debate - MJ or LeBron?

MJ, zero debate. Repeat, ZERO debate (I’m looking at you Luke Phillips).

8) Toughest venue in the NBL1 West to coach at outside of The Senate?

Geraldton, I don’t think there are to many arguments with that one.

9) Add one player from another NBL1 West team and add them to your side - Who are you taking and Why?

Michael Durr from Mandurah, would suit our system perfectly.

10) Three words that sum up Andrew Cooper as a Coach?

Honest, Competitive, Loyal.

-Travis Young