Kingfisher Tabs Cooper to Take Girls Basketball Reins

Kingfisher’s search for a new high school girls basketball coach ended Thursday night.

The Kingfisher Board of Education voted unanimously to hire Taylor Cooper near the end of a special meeting.

Cooper, an assistant at Edmond Santa Fe, said she is “excited” for the opportunity.

“Becoming a head coach has always been a dream of mine,” she said. 

“We have a lot of work to do, so I’m ready to get started.”

The position opened when Gerrett Spears resigned last month after two years.

Spears took over after Jay Wood stepped down after four seasons to become the school’s full-time athletic director.

Wood was instrumental in selecting Cooper.

“She knows what it takes to win and be successful,” Wood said.

Cooper has been a part of successful programs in the past.

She played on a state title team at Bethel as a junior in 2011, winning state tournament MVP along the way.

Cooper was on an undefeated Shawnee team in 2012 that won the 5A title.

One of the state’s top recruits, Cooper initially signed at Oral Roberts University.

After a year, she transferred to Texas A&M where she completed her playing career and also earned a bachelor’s in agricultural leadership and development.

She spent four years as an assistant at Bishop McGuinness before moving over to Santa Fe last season.

Cooper has since earned a master’s degree in sports management and administration from Southern Nazarene University.

For a more detailed story on Cooper, see Wednesday’s (April 21) edition of the Times & Free Press.