Tuesday, September 18, 2012
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
Dr. Chet Cooper Jr. calls himself one of the luckiest men in the world.
The award-winning YSU biology professor and Little League World Series umpire said being able to work with students and kids on a daily basis keeps him young at heart.
“My primary focus as YSU’s NCAA faculty athletics representative is student welfare; to make sure that our student-athletes are being treated fairly and conversely, that they, too, are aware of being responsible for their own actions,” said Cooper, speaking at the Curbstone Coaches’ weekly luncheon. “First and foremost, students have to realize that academics are their priority because 99 percent of all student-athletes won’t become professionals in their respective sports. Pro careers aren’t for everyone so the need to have something to fall back on when graduation day nears is paramount.
“That being said, YSU’s cumulative grade point average for all athletes is over 3.00 and our graduation rate is higher than that of the school’s undergraduate rate. It’s even higher than that of all undergraduates across the state and that is a fact of which we are most proud.”
Last year, the women’s softball team had a combined 3.57 overall GPA for its 20 student-athletes, tops of YSU’s 16 sports.
“When you see our athletes succeeding in the classroom as well as on the field, then you know that the coaches and administrative staff are making sure that they are doing the right things,” he said. “That’s what makes this labor of love so rewarding.”
Cooper, a native of Rochester, Pa., earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh/Johnstown and both his master’s and Ph.D in microbiology from the University of Texas-Austin.
While working at the University of Texas-Galveston, his son, Chet III, was playing Little League and Cooper was sitting in the stands among the complaining and second-guessing parents.
When one umpire failed to show and a volunteer was needed, Cooper raised his hand, in part to get away from the parents, he said.
“I then found that I liked my new assignment so I started going to umpire classes and became a decent umpire,” he stated.
In addition to his Little League umpiring, Cooper has worked the local Class B and AA sandlot leagues, as well as high school ball during the spring.
He earned an appointment as plate umpire for the 2005 Midwest championship game in the Little League’s Central Regional in Indianapolis, yet from 2006-2011 did not hear from the organization regarding selection for his services to the Little League World Series.
“I know how competitive it is so I was ready to give up hope,” he said. “In January, when I received a letter from Little League Headquarters, it was my appointment and I almost threw it away because I thought it was junk mail or advertising about their many baseball camps.
“Needless to say it was the best two-week working vacation that my wife, Karen and I ever enjoyed. I worked 11 games, including twice behind the plate and the first ever game for a team from Africa when Uganda took on Panama in its initial series appearance. People think the Magic Kingdom is in Florida or California. Believe me when I tell you that it is located in Williamsport, Pa.”
To read Cooper’s World Series blog, visit www.chet-llws-2012.blogspot.com.
Next week, YSU men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum will speak.