Trent Cooper
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer and coach}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Trent Cooper
| image = Trent Cooper 2019.1.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Cooper coaching Fremantle in January 2019
| fullname = Trent Aaron Cooper
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|06|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Midland, Western Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| coachyears1 = 2019–2022 (S7)
| coachclub1 = {{AFLW|Fre}} (W)
| coachgames_wins1 = 47 (30–16–1)
| coachstatsend = 2022 (S7)
| careerhighlights =
| years1 = 1997–1998
| club1 = Peel Thunder
| games_goals1 = 14 (7)
| years2 = 1999
| club2 = Swan Districts
| games_goals2 = 2 (0)
| source = [https://www.waflfootyfacts.net/player/stats.php?PlayerID=1272 WAFL FootyFacts]
| games_goalstotal = 16 (7)
}}
Trent Aaron Cooper (born 19 June 1974) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. Cooper was the senior coach of Fremantle Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for five seasons before departing the club in November 2022 after not being offered a new contract.
Playing career
Cooper played in the West Australian Football League for Peel Thunder in 1997 and 1998, and then for one season with Swan Districts in 1999. Cooper played a total of 16 league games and kicked seven goals over three seasons.{{WAFL FootyFacts}}
Coaching career
Cooper was announced as Fremantle's coach in June 2018, replacing the Dockers' inaugural AFLW coach, Michelle Cowan.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aflw-trent-cooper-named-as-michelle-cowans-successor-at-fremantle/news-story/e682e886a49115aacce4f41b9d5d12c2|title=AFLW: Trent Cooper named as Michelle Cowan's successor at Fremantle|date=7 June 2018|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=8 February 2019}}
After Fremantle went through the shortened 2020 AFLW season undefeated, Cooper was awarded the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award.{{cite news |last1=Hope |first1=Shayne |title=Freo coach consolation in AFLW award |url=https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/29013928/dockers-cooper-claims-aflw-coach-award |accessdate=27 April 2020 |work=ESPN.com |date=9 April 2020 |language=en}}
In his five seasons in charge, Cooper took Fremantle to the finals on four occasions. He was axed by the club in November 2022 after the conclusion of the AFLW's seventh season.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-07 |title=Trent Cooper to depart Freo |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1245708/trent-cooper-to-depart-freo |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Fremantle Football Club |language=en}} In the days following, Cooper described his departure as an "unpopular decision" and reiterated that he disagreed with the call.{{Cite web |last=Keating |first=Mitch |date=2022-11-20 |title="I disagree with the decision": Axed Fremantle coach Trent Cooper opens up on Dockers departure |url=https://www.zerohanger.com/i-disagree-with-the-decision-axed-fremantle-coach-trent-cooper-opens-up-on-dockers-departure-130091/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Zero Hanger |language=en-US}}
Less than a month after leaving Fremantle, Cooper was hired by the West Australian Football Commission in a youth development coaching role.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-12-07 |title=WAFC Recruits Highly Respected Coach Trent Cooper |url=https://www.wafc.com.au/news/23162/wafc-recruits-highly-respected-coach-trent-cooper |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=West Australian Football Commission}}
Personal life
Outside of football, Cooper is a high school maths teacher, having taught at Wesley College and Chisholm Catholic College.{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=AFLW: Cooper's vision clear for Fremantle |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/85691/aflw-coopers-vision-clear-for-fremantle |website=fremantlefc.com.au |date=2 August 2018 |accessdate=27 April 2020 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/video/415533/aflw-get-to-know-trent-cooper?videoId=415533&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1550701356001 Get to know Trent Cooper], Today Tonight (21 February 2019)
{{AFLCA AFLW senior coach of the year}}
{{Fremantle Football Club coaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Trent}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia
Category:Swan Districts Football Club players
Category:Peel Thunder Football Club players
Category:Fremantle Football Club coaches
Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen
{{AFL-bio-1970s-stub}}