The New York Yankees organization has hired longtime Grambling State head coach former player James Cooper following his resignation announced this week. The Yankee organization is thrilled to add Cooper as a coach to their minor league staff.
Cooper will perform coaching duties at the Major League level, and his varied experience and background will provide a new voice and perspective.
Cooper joins the organization from the Grambling State Tigers, where he served as the second longest-tenured in the SWAC among current head baseball coaches.
The 2022 season would have been Cooper’s 12th season as the head coach of the Tigers baseball program. The 2010 and 2017 SWAC Baseball Coach of the Year has been a model citizen as a coach and former player at Grambling hired before the 2010 season.
Cooper will assist the Yankee minor league system with baserunning and outfield instruction as the coordinator.
Cooper, drafted by the Houston Astros in the 33rd round following his playing career at Grambling.
Cooper has been part of coaching so many high-level players, building teams as both a head coach, an assistant, and recruiting efforts.
Under his helm at Grambling, produced nine notable MLB draft picks and free agents:
Jeremy Shelby 38th round Baltimore Orioles,
Eldred Barnett 29th round San Francisco Giants
Chris Wolfe 30th round Oakland A’s
Cory Jordan 35th round Tampa Bay Rays
Edwin Drexler 38th round Los Angeles Dodgers 2015
Tanner Raiburn 33rd round Boston Red Sox 2017
Johan Mojica Free Agent sign with Milwaukee Brewers 2017
Torreon Woods MLB scout Oakland A’s (currently Chicago White Sox) 2018
Marshawn Taylor 28th round Arizona Diamondbacks 2018
Angel Peguero Development Coach Philadelphia Phillies 2019.
Cooper stated “Deciding to leave Grambling was one of the toughest decisions in my life. Being attached to the place where I truly became a man, developed unbreakable relationships, and not to mention the place where I got my first start at. Only the Yankees could have gotten me to leave, plus there was always a relationship with Grambling State and the Yankees in the past and now its time to create one for the future. I’m truly excited to go on this new journey back into pro ball. I’ll forever be HBCU proud, a SWAC alum, and I’ll always Love and Fight for Dear Ole Grambling.”