Michael Cooper: A Hall of Famer Takes the Helm at Cal State LA
Michael Cooper, a Hall of Famer, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Cal State Los Angeles men's basketball team. Cooper, who has been the associate coach since 2023, will take over from Jim Saia, who announced that the 2025-26 season would be his last with the Golden Eagles. Saia had a 121-134 record in his ten seasons with the team, including a 9-18 record in the most recent season.
Cooper, who will celebrate his 70th birthday next Wednesday, has an extensive coaching background. He started his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Lakers in 1994 and later became the head coach of the Sparks in the WNBA. Cooper has had a successful coaching career, winning the WNBA Coach of the Year award in 2000 and leading the Sparks to championships in 2001 and 2002.
After leaving the Sparks in 2024, Cooper went on to coach the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach and interim head coach. He also coached the Albuquerque Thunderbirds in the NBA's D-League, leading them to a championship in 2006. Cooper has coached various teams, including the USC women's basketball team and the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
Before his coaching career, Cooper was a player for the Lakers, drafted in the third round of the 1978 NBA draft. Despite a knee injury early in his rookie season, Cooper went on to have a successful 12-season NBA career, all with the Lakers. Known for his tenacious defense, Cooper was selected to the NBA's all-defensive first team five times and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987.
Cooper's defensive skills were particularly evident in his matchups against star players like Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. Cooper, along with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was part of all five of the Lakers' championship teams in the 1980s. His contributions to the team were recognized when he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024.
In conclusion, Michael Cooper's appointment as the head coach of the Cal State Los Angeles men's basketball team brings a wealth of experience and success to the program. With his coaching background and impressive playing career, Cooper is poised to lead the Golden Eagles to new heights in the upcoming seasons.