Celebrating the life of
Ken Cooper
October 12, 1936 - May 30, 2017
Former Benedictine Football Coach
E. C. “Ken” Cooper, Jr. 80, died Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at his residence. He was born October 12, 1936 in Enigma, Georgia to E.C. Cooper and Mary Helen Canady Cooper. Ken graduated from Tifton High School with a football scholarship to the University of Georgia where he played from 1954-1957. He was an assistant coach from 1963-1970. He was a part of two SEC championship teams under head coach Vince Dooley. Ken left UGA to become an assistant coach at Ole Miss, 1971-1973 and was named head coach in 1974. In 1975, he was named SEC coach of the year.
After Ken’s college coaching career, he worked for AT&T and retired after 20 years.
In 2004, Ken returned to coaching at Benedictine Military School as an assistant coach for 12 years. He also served as BC’S head tennis coach.
In 2012, Ken Cooper was inducted into the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, University of Georgia Chapter.
Surviving are his wife, Teresa Garrison Cooper of Savannah, GA; son, Stephen C. Cooper of Atlanta, GA; daughter, Mary Cooper Marler (Todd) of Houston, TX; son, Ross Hopper of Atlanta. GA; granddaughter, Miya Marler of Houston, TX; brothers, Fred Cooper of Augusta, GA; Wayne L. Cooper of Tifton, GA; sister, Shirley S. Bottroff of Denver, CO.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 4, 2017 in the Hodgson Chapel of Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Benedictine Military School Cafeteria.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Benedictine Military School BCAA, 6502 Seawright Dr., Savannah, GA 31406.
Steve, I am saddened for you and your family in the loss of your father. My prayers are with you and your family during your time of grief. If you get an opportunity, please e-mail me sometimes To let me know how you are.
- Carl (Al) Smiley, Monroe, GA
My deepest condolences to Coach Cooper's Family. I will always be grateful for the care he took of my son and the other football players at BC. May he rest in peace and joy.
- A Mom from BC Class of '09, Savannah, GA
Very sorry to hear of Ken's passing. We had many great memories and many big wins at Ole Miss, specifically two wins over Georgia in 75 and 76, Alabama in 76, and Notre Dame in 77. Please accept my condolences for his loss.
- Jim Carmody, Madison, MS
Uncle Kenny was a leader in his family and in his professional life. Dad always looked up to him as a role model. He and Dad pursued sports professionally as coaches and passed that love onto their children and grandchildren. My newly married parents were befriended by Kenny and his wife at UGA, and later in Tifton. He helped to care for them, and thus, for my brother and me. Thank you Uncle Kenny for your legacy. You will be greatly missed. Much love,
- Kelly Cooper Bagwell, Gainesville , GA
The news if Ken passing broke my heart. He was a good man and a great coach. He brought me to Ole Miss and I will always be grateful to him. My prayers go to his family..
- Leroy Mullins, Oxford, Ms
Please accept my condolences for the loss of Coach. I played for him at Ole Miss in 1974-77 and am so grateful for the opportunities he gave me and the wonderful kindness he always displayed to all. He was truly a good man. May peace and comfort be abundant to his family. Don Kitchens
- Don Kitchens, Collierville, TN
So sorry for your loss. Ken was a classmate at Tift County High, Class of '54.
- , ,
Thoughts and prayers for Ken and his family Knew him at Ole Miss. A good person and coach.
- Charlie Ferrill, Eureka Springs, AR
Teresa, I just read of Ken's passing. You and the family have my prayers and condolences as you get through this time in your life. Love, Marcia
- Marcia Hazen Martin, Valdosta, GA
Steve and Mary, please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your father.
- Jamie Henderson, Oxford, MS
So sorry to hear about Coach Cooper. My sincere prayers go out to the family during this difficult time. Couch was the most influential person that carried me through my Ole Miss career and beyond. I considered him a great coach, as well as a dear friend. May God Bless and comfort you.
- Don Leathers, Iuka, Ms
I am so sorry to hear of Coach Coopers passing. I was very fortunate to have played offensive line under Coach Cooper at Ole Miss from 1971-1973. He demanded perfection from his players. I loved his style of coaching rest in Peace Coach Cooper. You were a fantastic coach and even greater person. Art Bressler. Univ. of Mississippi 1970-1974. Thank you Coach Cooper!!!
- Art Bressler, Oxford, MS
ken had some great wins at ole miss and was quite a gentleman . a great credit to your family and also the university of mississippi
- buddy cooke, ridgeland, ms
Such a loss!! My prayers are with the Cooper family. So proud to have been a small part of Coach Cooper's teams at Ole Miss. A truly good and decent person. Thanks Coach for all you did for me.
- Kenny King, Ackerman, Ms
You have my deepest sympathy.
- Mickey Fratesi, Leland, Ms
sure sorry to hear the passing of my former college coach. To the cooper family my prayers go out to you.
- steve lavinghouze, flowood, ms
Heartfelt sympathies to Teresa and family. I have many fond memories of our years working together at BellSouth. And Ivey always enjoyed visiting with Ken when he came in to shop at Ivey's, The Man's Shop. He was loved and will be missed by many. May God comfort you as only He can.
- Linda & Ivey Plair, Valdosta, GA
Coach Cooper was a great coach and person to so many of us. Among many other life lessons, He taught us about understanding and proper execution of fundamentals. It has well served so many of us in life. A smile from him would make your days, especially during two a day practices. RIP Coach.
- Pete Boone, Oxford, Ms
My heart is very heavy after getting the news of Coach Cooper's passing Very few days go by that I don't think of Coach, in my decisions in coaching and life. My prayers are with his family Randy White Co-Captain 1977 Ole Miss Rebels
- Randy White, Ripley, Tn
May Jehovah, the God of all comfort, give your family the strength needed to cope with the loss of your loved one. Revelation 21:3,4
- B. Kelly, Pooler, Ga
Steve, I am saddened for you and your family in the loss of your father. My prayers are with you and your family during your time of grief. If you get an opportunity, please e-mail me sometimes To let me know how you are.
- Carl (Al) Smiley, Monroe, GA
My deepest condolences to Coach Cooper's Family. I will always be grateful for the care he took of my son and the other football players at BC. May he rest in peace and joy.
- A Mom from BC Class of '09, Savannah, GA
Very sorry to hear of Ken's passing. We had many great memories and many big wins at Ole Miss, specifically two wins over Georgia in 75 and 76, Alabama in 76, and Notre Dame in 77. Please accept my condolences for his loss.
- Jim Carmody, Madison, MS
Uncle Kenny was a leader in his family and in his professional life. Dad always looked up to him as a role model. He and Dad pursued sports professionally as coaches and passed that love onto their children and grandchildren. My newly married parents were befriended by Kenny and his wife at UGA, and later in Tifton. He helped to care for them, and thus, for my brother and me. Thank you Uncle Kenny for your legacy. You will be greatly missed. Much love,
- Kelly Cooper Bagwell, Gainesville , GA
The news if Ken passing broke my heart. He was a good man and a great coach. He brought me to Ole Miss and I will always be grateful to him. My prayers go to his family..
- Leroy Mullins, Oxford, Ms
Please accept my condolences for the loss of Coach. I played for him at Ole Miss in 1974-77 and am so grateful for the opportunities he gave me and the wonderful kindness he always displayed to all. He was truly a good man. May peace and comfort be abundant to his family. Don Kitchens
- Don Kitchens, Collierville, TN
So sorry for your loss. Ken was a classmate at Tift County High, Class of '54.
- , ,
Thoughts and prayers for Ken and his family Knew him at Ole Miss. A good person and coach.
- Charlie Ferrill, Eureka Springs, AR
Teresa, I just read of Ken's passing. You and the family have my prayers and condolences as you get through this time in your life. Love, Marcia
- Marcia Hazen Martin, Valdosta, GA
Steve and Mary, please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your father.
- Jamie Henderson, Oxford, MS
So sorry to hear about Coach Cooper. My sincere prayers go out to the family during this difficult time. Couch was the most influential person that carried me through my Ole Miss career and beyond. I considered him a great coach, as well as a dear friend. May God Bless and comfort you.
- Don Leathers, Iuka, Ms
I am so sorry to hear of Coach Coopers passing. I was very fortunate to have played offensive line under Coach Cooper at Ole Miss from 1971-1973. He demanded perfection from his players. I loved his style of coaching rest in Peace Coach Cooper. You were a fantastic coach and even greater person. Art Bressler. Univ. of Mississippi 1970-1974. Thank you Coach Cooper!!!
- Art Bressler, Oxford, MS
ken had some great wins at ole miss and was quite a gentleman . a great credit to your family and also the university of mississippi
- buddy cooke, ridgeland, ms
Such a loss!! My prayers are with the Cooper family. So proud to have been a small part of Coach Cooper's teams at Ole Miss. A truly good and decent person. Thanks Coach for all you did for me.
- Kenny King, Ackerman, Ms
You have my deepest sympathy.
- Mickey Fratesi, Leland, Ms
sure sorry to hear the passing of my former college coach. To the cooper family my prayers go out to you.
- steve lavinghouze, flowood, ms
Heartfelt sympathies to Teresa and family. I have many fond memories of our years working together at BellSouth. And Ivey always enjoyed visiting with Ken when he came in to shop at Ivey's, The Man's Shop. He was loved and will be missed by many. May God comfort you as only He can.
- Linda & Ivey Plair, Valdosta, GA
Coach Cooper was a great coach and person to so many of us. Among many other life lessons, He taught us about understanding and proper execution of fundamentals. It has well served so many of us in life. A smile from him would make your days, especially during two a day practices. RIP Coach.
- Pete Boone, Oxford, Ms
My heart is very heavy after getting the news of Coach Cooper's passing Very few days go by that I don't think of Coach, in my decisions in coaching and life. My prayers are with his family Randy White Co-Captain 1977 Ole Miss Rebels
- Randy White, Ripley, Tn
May Jehovah, the God of all comfort, give your family the strength needed to cope with the loss of your loved one. Revelation 21:3,4
- B. Kelly, Pooler, Ga
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
