Coop's Unbeatable Legacy

United Electric Brad “Coop” Cooper led the Minico High School wrestling team to a state title in 2017, the team’s first since 2006. Coop’s Unbeatable Legacy Minico’s renowned coach leaves wrestling program in Boe Rushton’s capable hands By Dianna Troyer earned a spot in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma. It was never about the trophies, Brad “Coop” Cooper insists “It was a pleasant surprise for me,” says Coop, who has a as he packs up his Minico High School classroom for the reputation for shunning the spotlight and instead allowing his 30th and final time before starting summer vacation and record to speak for itself. retirement. Two of his teams won the Idaho 4A State Wrestling Whatever door the teacher and legendary wrestling coach Championships, most recently in February and also in 2006. exits through, he likely walks past a display case filled with His wrestlers have won nearly 20 district titles and more than trophies won by his wrestlers. two dozen individual state titles. “It was about the kids, watching them grow up and seeing Coop hopes his lessons about self-discipline, motivation them light up from their accomplishments, whether on the and never giving up carry over to his wrestlers’ lives off the mat or in the classroom,” says Coop, 57, who worked at his mat. alma mater for 30 years. “I always told them if there’s time on the clock, there’s time Along with coaching, he taught a variety of subjects, most to win,” he says. recently U.S. history and physical education. Each season, Coop usually had about 40 wrestlers and “I’ve taught and coached the grandkids of my first stu- taught them to compete as a team. dents,” Coop says. “I’ve enjoyed watching the generations “That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from Coop,” come through.” says his replacement, Boe Rushton, assistant coach for the past Due to his coaching success, Coop was inducted into the two years. “We won state this past year because every one of Idaho Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 our wrestlers got at least one point. Even though it’s an indi- and received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award. He also vidual sport, they did their best for the team as a whole.” 4 JUNE 2017 Above, Coop, who also coached track, gives Juan Ruiz Jr. pointers about his shot put form. Right, Boe Rushton will take over Minico High School’s wrestling program when Coop retires. Boe was a heavyweight wrestler at Wood River High School Season after season, he relied on his wife, Janet, who helped in Hailey and Boise State University, and an NCAA All- him after her workday as a teacher at East Minico Middle School. American wrestler. He heard through friends and a job web- “I don’t know what I would have done without her,” he says. site that Coop needed an assistant. “She paired up the bouts and matches, ran the concessions “I’m excited to be here and to have been able to work with and did whatever needed to be done.” him,” he says. When wrestling season ended, Coop and Boe carried their Coop already retired once, in 2010, but returned five years “all-for-one-and-one-for-all” philosophy to track and field, later when the Spartans needed a coach. coaching the Spartans in shot put and discus. “I agreed to come back for two years on the condition that I Several wrestlers were also track team members. could mentor my replacement,” says Coop. “The program is in Juan Ruiz Jr., a heavyweight wrestler who will be a senior good hands with Boe.” this fall, threw shot put. Coop promises to return as a fan. “During wrestling season, Coach worked us hard with “I’ll come back to watch meets and cheer,” he says, noting morning runs and workouts on the mats and in the weight he has spent more than half his life at the school—as a stu- room,” Juan says. “It was his way of helping us to do our best dent, teacher and, starting in 1983, a coach. at the meets.” A 1978 Minico graduate, Coop was known for his aggres- As a retiree this summer, Coop says he might actually relax sive wrestling style in the 167-pound weight class. H earned a a little. During his years at the school, he worked part-time wrestling scholarship to Idaho State University. in summer as a seasonal employee for the U.S. Forest Service, As a coach, he taught wrestlers to take the offense. He often working on trails or doing range management while also tak- got on the mat to demonstrate techniques. ing wrestlers to camps and competitions. “I felt I needed to show the moves, but it took a toll on my “During summer, I’d put 9,000 miles on a vehicle,” Coop knees and neck,” says Coop, who has had several knee surgeries. says. “We drove to Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and As wrestlers refined their techniques, Coop scheduled Colorado. For the past two summers, Boe has done a great job workouts to help them peak at state. organizing the camps.” “There’s a fine line between pushing them enough and not Without wrestling commitments this summer, Coop says he pushing them too hard,” he says. “We never encouraged them to plans to fish along the Oregon Coast and throughout Idaho. lose weight, just to not drink unhealthy carbonated beverages.” In the future, he says he hopes Boe’s wrestlers will continue One of his favorite sayings was, “A hungry tiger is a lot to win individual titles and team championships and keep tougher than one that just ate.” filling the school’s trophy cases. n JUNE 2017 5 United Electric United Electric Announcements Call 811 Before You Dig Nontraditional Scholarship Available Summer is a great time to start those outdoor projects Applications for the $500 nontraditional scholarship you have been thinking about. 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