Southern Utah University Athletics

A pioneer of Southern Utah athletics, Cooper competed for Branch Normal School and set a Utah State record in the long jump at 22 feet, 8 inches—a mark that stood for nearly 50 years. He won multiple gold medals at the Utah State Championships and was listed among the top-10 long jumpers in the world in the 1911 Spalding Sports Almanac. His early excellence helped lay the foundation for competitive athletics in Cedar City.