Bob Cope (basketball)

{{short description|American basketball player and coach}}

{{confused|Robert Cope (basketball)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Bob Cope

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|7|17}}

| birth_place = Missoula, Montana, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|11|28|1928|7|17}}

| death_place = Missoula, Montana, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1946–1950

| player_team1 = Montana

| player_positions = Center

| coach_years1 = ?–1964

| coach_team1 = Southwestern College

| coach_years2 = 1965–1968

| coach_team2 = Montana (assistant)

| coach_years3 = 1968–1970

| coach_team3 = Montana

| overall_record =

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards = Third-team All-American – Helms (1948)

| coaching_records =

}}

Robert D. Cope (July 17, 1928 – November 28, 2001) was an American college basketball player and coach from the University of Montana.

Cope grew up in Missoula, Montana. a 6'3" center, he played for Missoula County High School, where he led the team to the 1946 state title. He opted to stay close to home, attending the University of Montana and playing basketball from 1946 to 1950. Cope was an excellent scorer, finishing his career with 1,808 points and earning third-team All-American honors from the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1948.{{cite news|title=Hoop Farewell for Bob Cope|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19700225&id=sEVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6738,2955746&hl=en |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date= February 25, 1970|via = Google News Archive|accessdate = March 29, 2016}}

Cope later turned to coaching, first at Southwestern College in California, until he resigned due to illness.{{cite news|title=Cope Resigns SC Post; Replacement Sought|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/116310144/?terms=%22bob%2Bcope%22%2Bsouthwestern%2Bcollege |newspaper=Chula Vista Star News |date= April 19, 1964|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 29, 2016}} {{Open access}} He then moved to his alma mater, first as an assistant for five seasons, then as head coach from 1968 to 1970. He compiled a record of 13–34 in the two seasons. Cope died in Missoula on November 28, 2001.{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Former Griz Basketball Star Bob Cope to be Recognized | work = GoGriz.com | date = February 8, 2002| url = http://www.gogriz.com/news/2002/2/8/Former_Griz_Basketball_Star_Bob_Cope_to_be_Recognized.aspx | accessdate = March 29, 2016}}