Greg Cooper Named Next Head Coach Of Utah Warriors
Jul 20, 2022, 2:17 PM
Utah Warriors introduce Greg Cooper as head coach at a press conference in Herriman, Utah. (Photo: Trevor Allen)
(Photo: Trevor Allen)
HERRIMAN, Utah – The Utah Warriors announced on Wednesday afternoon that Greg Cooper will be the fourth head coach in franchise history.
Greg Cooper takes over the Utah Warriors as the most-experienced head coach in Major League Rugby. He joins the club from the Mitsubishi DynaBoars in Japan, who he helped elevate to Japan Rugby League One for the first time in 12 years. Before his time in Japan, Cooper was in Europe, leading Stade Francais to a European Challenge Cup Championship, which is the first European trophy in Stade Francais history. He was an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in 2017.
“After a thorough and exhaustive process, we are excited to welcome Greg Cooper to Warrior Nation,” said Warriors’ General Manager Brandon Sparks. “Greg is bringing a diverse wealth of global experience to our rugby operation, which will benefit the team and organization. His coaching style and personality will lend itself to our development-focused mindset and we are eager to see his contributions to our team and community as we turn Utah into the epicenter of North American rugby.”
Welcome to Utah, Coach Greg Cooper!#ForTheNation
— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) July 20, 2022
“Greg’s experience at the highest levels of professional rugby as both a coach and player ensures that the Utah Warriors are in the most capable coaching hands in the MLR,” said Warriors’ CEO Kimball Kjar. “Not only does Greg’s leadership and success speak for itself, but his ability to work in dynamic environments shows he and his teams can succeed no matter the situation. Warriors Nation is going to love Greg and we’re very excited to have someone of his character and experience added to the Warriors family.”
As a coach, Cooper spent time with Otago RFU, BLues, NEC, Stade Francais, New Zealand U21, HIghlanders and Mitsubishi DynaBoars as either an assistant, co-head coach or head coach.
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to be Head Coach of the Utah Warriors,” said Greg Cooper. “I believe this is an organization that has strong rugby foundations and a loyal and passionate fan base here in the community. I look forward to building on the great work done so far to ensure the Warriors are consistently successful and respected, both locally and nationally.”
