Sitdown Series - A.J. Cooper

Speak of the Devils

Kenny Dillingham wasn't the only new Sun Devil coach to return home last year. Along with defensive coordinator Brian Ward, Valley native A.J. Cooper came home to lead ASU's linebackers.

Cooper's path took him from Sunnyslope High School to a productive stint at Glendale Community College, which in turn led to All-American honors as a tight end at North Dakota State. It was then he got into coaching, becoming a part of the Bison national championship dynasty before working his way from Wyoming to Washington State to Tempe. Heading into his second year in the desert, Cooper has some veteran returners to pair with a trio of talented transfers.

On this episode, we discuss his coaching journey, his Valley homecoming, lessons learned from a national title three-peat, the 2024 group of linebackers, and much more.