Wave Staff and Wire Reports
LOS ANGELES — Former Laker great Michael Cooper was introduced April 8 as Cal State Los Angeles men’s basketball coach after being its associate coach since 2023.
Cooper succeeds Jim Saia, who had announced the 2025-26 season would be his last with the Golden Eagles. Saia had a 121-134 record in 10 seasons, including a 9-18 record this season.
“I’ve always said it takes five Ds to win a championship: determination, dedication, desire, discipline and decision-making,” Cooper said during a news conference April 8 announcing his hiring. “I’ve incorporated those principles into my coaching philosophy, and they will be pillars of what we do here at Cal State L.A.”
Cooper added that the goal is to build a program the university can take pride in, emphasizing the need to focus on action by raising funds, strengthening community ties, increasing fan support and boosting awareness of Cal State L.A.
“The Lakers are L.A., Michael Cooper is L.A., and Cal State L.A. — we are L.A.,” he said.
Cooper was announced as Cal State L.A.’s head coach in front of a large gathering of former Los Angeles Lakers teammates — Byron Scott, A.C. Green and Norm Nixon, longtime friends of the Lakers great and a big contingent of Cal State L.A. student-athletes and campus staff.
“Michael Cooper represents the very best of Los Angeles — excellence, resilience, and a deep commitment to community,” Cal State L.A. President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said. “His championship legacy and dedication to mentoring student-athletes make him an exceptional leader for Cal State L.A., and we’re confident he will shape both a winning program and the next generation of leaders.”
“Michael Cooper has been an extraordinary teacher and leader for many years and, as our associate head coach, he has already elevated our program,” Cal State L.A. executive director of athletics Daryl Gross said. “We are confident he will now leverage his championship-level experience and proven success to take Cal State L.A. men’s basketball to new heights. His successful coaching stints — resulting in multiple championships at every level — will be instrumental in creating a Showtime-like experience on and off the court, while advancing our vision of developing impactful future global leaders.”
Cooper, who will turn 70 April 15, began his coaching career in 1994 as an assistant coach with the Lakers, remaining in the position through 1996. He became an assistant coach with the Sparks in 1999 and their coach the following season.
He was selected as the WNBA’s Coach of the Year in 2000 and coached the Sparks to championships in 2001 and 2002.
Cooper left the Sparks in 2024 to become an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. He was their interim head coach for a 14-game stint in the 2004-05 season.
Cooper coached the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA’s D-League from 2005-07, leading them to a championship in 2006, and returned to coach the Sparks again from 2007-09. He coached the USC women’s basketball team from 2009-13 and the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream from 2014-17.
Cooper coached the boys’ basketball teams at Chadwick School on the Palos Verdes Peninsula from 2019-21 and Culver City High School from 2021-23.
Cooper was drafted by the Lakers in the third round of the 1978 NBA draft, the 60th overall selection, out of New Mexico after playing at Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College. However, he played just three games as a rookie in the 1978-79 season because of a knee injury sustained while playing in the Southern California Summer Pro Basketball League.
Cooper rarely started during his 12-season NBA career, all with the Lakers, but 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 made 94 regular-season starts over the final nine seasons of his career. The NBA began keeping track of games started in the 1981-82 season.
The 6-foot-7-inch, 170-pound Cooper was known for his tenacious defense, usually drawing the opponent’s toughest scorer. His battles with Boston Celtics’ star Larry Bird during the teams’ three meetings in the NBA Finals were particularly memorable. Bird once said Cooper was the toughest defender he played against.
Cooper, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were the only players to play on all five of the Lakers’ 1980s championship teams. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024.
