Penn State baseball head coach Rob Cooper has tendered his resignation after a decade leading the Nittany Lion program.
His resignation is effective at the end of Penn State’s season, which will conclude with home games against Maryland on Friday and Saturday after failing to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament.
“I am beyond grateful for my time as the head baseball coach at Penn State,” Cooper said in a statement. “This is a special place, because of the special people who make it up. My family and I love Penn State. While I am disappointed I wasn’t able to get the baseball program the success it deserves, I am excited about the vision [athletic director Patrick Kraft] has for Penn State Athletics, the student-athletes and the baseball program.
“Penn State baseball is in good hands. The next coach will love Penn State, the people and the community as much as my family has. I wish our players nothing but success and happiness.”
Cooper, who previously was the head coach at Wright State for nine seasons, was hired in August 2013 as the 14th head coach in Penn State baseball history. During his 10 years at the helm, the Nittany Lions have posted a 197-269 record and reached the Big Ten Tournament just once, in 2022 as the No. 6 seed for their first postseason appearance since 2012.
Under Cooper’s leadership, 12 Nittany Lions have been picked in the Major League Baseball Draft, including catcher Matt Wood, who became the highest position player draft selection in program history when he was taken in the fourth round last year by the Milwaukee Brewers.
“We appreciate Rob Cooper for all he has done for the Penn State community these last 10 seasons,” Kraft said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Rob for not only the commitment he made to our baseball program, but also the way he represented Penn State University with class. I want to thank Rob, and wish him, his wife, Maureen, and his family nothing but the best in the future.”
Penn State will begin a national search for Cooper’s replacement immediately, according to a news release.
