AWARDS & ACCOLADES
2023 Dave Campbell's Texas Football 40 Under 40 List
2021 247Sports 30under30 List
BIO
Kyle Cooper enters his third season back at the Hilltop in 2024, serving as the special teams coordinator and running backs coach.
During his third season in Dallas, Cooper’s units played a big role during the Mustangs’ historic first year in the conference. SMU’s running backs and special teams played a major part in lifting the program to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Under Cooper’s leadership, transfer Brashard Smith flourished in his new role in the backfield, the first time playing the position since Pop Warner. In 2024, Smith recorded 1,977 all-purpose yards, the most in a single season in SMU history. He also became the 12th Mustang to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark and finished fourth in the single-season record books with 1,332. The senior earned many accolades during and following his breakout season, including earning All-America status by four major publications (Associated Press, AFCA, Sporting News, Phil Steele) while also being named to the All-ACC First Team by the conference. The elusive back was also named First Team All-Texas by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football publication.
Smith was all over the top 25 in major FBS statistics, finishing ranked eighth in the country in all-purpose yards with 141.2 per game, 12th in total touchdowns (18), 20th in total points scored (112) and 25th in rushing yards per game (95.1). The 112 points scored were the fifth most in program history. The Miami native notched six games with at least 100 yards on the ground and had over 100 all-purpose yards in eight contests in the season. As a team, the Mustangs rushed for 29 touchdowns on the year, which ranked tied for third most in school history.
The special teams’ unit was a strong suit for the Mustangs during their historic campaign. SMU finished in the top-25 nationally in Punt Returns (13th), Kickoff Returns (15th) and Kickoff Return Defense (22nd). The Mustangs also finished ranked in the top 20 (19th) in the FEI Special Teams Ratings by BC Toys.
Kicker Collin Rogers also shined in his junior season, earning a spot at the top of the Mustangs record book for points scored with 356. Rogers also nailed seven field goals of 50-or-more yards, one shy of the NCAA record for a single season.
For his success, Rogers earned First Team All-America honors by the FWAA and Sports Illustrated as well All-America Honorable Mention by Phil Steele. The junior was also named First Team All-Texas by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football publication as well. His 124 points scored ranked 12th in FBS on the year and were the third most in program history for a single season.
Before the 2023 season, Cooper was named to Dave Campbell's Texas Football 40 Under 40 List. He was also recognized by 247Sports in its 30under30 List back in 2021.
Cooper finished up year two on the Hilltop in 2023, resulting in one of the better special teams units in the country. Under the second-year coach's guidance, the Mustangs special teams thrived in all three areas, resulting in a first-team all-conference selection in kicker Collin Rogers, a second-team selection in returner Roderick Daniels Jr. and a third-team selection in punter Ryan Bujcevski. SMU finished the year with Daniels ranking in the top 15 in the country in punt return touchdowns (2nd) and punt return average (14th).
Rogers set the set program record in a single season for field goals made (20) and PATs (66) in 2023, while Bujcevski was recognized with his punting, being named on the Ray Guy Watch List.
Cooper completed his first season serving as the Mustangs' linebackers coach in 2022, helping the Mustangs to a 7-5 regular season and an appearance in the New Mexico Bowl. The room was led by senior Jimmy Phillips Jr., who had 85 total tackles throughout the season and tied the SMU record for career games played at 59.
Cooper returned to the Hilltop as an assistant coach in December 2021, working with outside linebackers while serving as recruiting coordinator. In February 2023, Cooper took over the role of special teams coordinator and leads the safeties room.
Cooper spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Miami under Lashlee, after spending two seasons with Lashlee at SMU (2018-19), serving an as senior offensive quality control analyst for the Hurricanes.
He was part of a record-setting offense in 2019 that helped the Mustangs to a historic season, going 10-3, winning the most games since 1984 and earning their highest national ranking since 1985 of No. 15/14. SMU set season records in scoring (544), scoring average (41.8), total yards (6,368), total yards per game (489.8), total plays (1,037), rushing TDS (35), total first downs (322) and total TDs (73), while tying the then-passing TDs record (35). The Mustangs finished in the top 15 of the national rankings in scoring offense (7th, 41.8), total offense (9th, 489.8) and passing offense (13th, 309.0). SMU hadn't cracked the top 25 in any of the three categories in 2018, finishing just outside the top 25 in passing offense at No. 27.
During his first season at Miami, the Hurricanes jumped to No. 32 in FBS in total offense (from No. 98), No. 29 in passing offense (from No. 52), No. 26 in scoring offense (from No. 90), No. 17 in red zone offense (from No. 122) and No. 20 in first downs gained (from No. 84). Miami finished second in the AAC Coastal standings in 2021 after a 7-5 regular season, and were in the top 25 for fourth down conversion % (10th, .714), passing offense (10th, 321.2), first down offense (14th, 293) and total offense (23rd, 448.8).
Cooper joined the Mustangs for the first time in 2018 after serving as a graduate assistant at UConn, where he worked with the offense.
Prior to his time with the Huskies, he was a graduate assistant coach for two years at Westminster College (New Wilmington, Pa.) working with the defensive line.
Cooper was a two-time team captain at Robert Morris and a two-year starting linebacker. The team won the 2010 Northeast Conference championship and earned a spot in the FCS playoffs. He is a 2013 graduate of Robert Morris with a degree in sport management and has a master's of business administration from the school as well. Cooper was named a Capital One Academic All-District pick as a senior and named to the NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
