Grove Class of 1960

Charlie Cooper graduated from Grove High School in 1960 and came back to be the head football coach of the Ridgerunners from 1976-1980. He was all-conference in both football and basketball and a member of the 1958 State Runner-up Football Team. After graduating from Grove, he was All-Conference defensive end at Northern Oklahoma College before transferring to NSU his junior year. Charlie was a member of the 1963 team that posted an undefeated season (11-0) and All-Sports Bowl championship. Charlie began his coaching career in 1964 in Jay and led the Bulldogs to three state playoff appearances.

During Coach Cooper’s tenure as Grove’s Head Football Coach, the Ridgerunners made the state playoffs twice. He also served as Grove’s AD and assistant principal. Charlie continued his coaching career in Tahlequah, where he built the Tigers into a 4A football powerhouse. He won six district championships at Tahlequah, averaged 10 wins a season for five consecutive years and led the 1989 Tigers to a 4A State Runner-Up. Other coaching stops in his 35 years included Joplin Memorial High School and Coffeyville Junior College. He finished his coaching career in Rogers, Arkansas before retiring from coaching in 2002. Coach Cooper was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association HOF in 1993, the NSU Athletics HOF in 1996, Tahlequah Tigers Athletic HOF in 2015.

Ridgerunner Athletics