HIGH-SCHOOL

Quinterrance Cooper named next athletic director at St. Augustine High

Myer Lee
St. Augustine Record
St. Augustine High alum Quinterrance Cooper will become the new athletic director this summer.

ST. AUGUSTINE — Undoubtedly, Quinterrance Cooper’s most memorable moment at St. Augustine High was when the former quarterback led the Yellow Jackets to the school’s only state title in 2005. 

Cooper said he cherishes that moment because he built lifelong connections with his teammates that will never vanish. 

But that was their tradition. 

Athletes today are interested in creating their own moments and building their own legacies.  

“Making a new tradition is going to last for them,” Cooper said. “When they get to this point in their life, they can look back on it as memorable.” 

As the newly promoted athletic director at St. Augustine, Cooper plans to create those new traditions and also build back the community through the athletes. 

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His coaching mantra has always been “the person, the student, the athlete," meaning he wants to build those aspects of the athlete. After all, he said, athletes are leaders ... whether they like it or not. 

“I’ve got to empower those coaches to empower those kids,” Cooper added. “Once that happens, great things are going to happen within our community.” 

Cooper, born and raised in St. Augustine, is a product of the community.

He played football at Western Kentucky University for four years and returned to St. Augustine High in 2011 to jumpstart his coaching career. Over the years, he's coached basketball, track and football. 

Head football coach Brian Braddock called Cooper "a leader" who has invested a lot in the athletes and the area.

“Hopefully, he can maximize the strengths that we have here,” Braddock said. “We have an enormous alumni base and community interest. I think that’ll be important to him.” 

St. Augustine Principal DeArmas Graham said Cooper is ready to lead and continue building positive community relationships. He’s also ready to give back to the community that has supported him. 

“This is an exciting time for St. Augustine High athletics,” Graham added. “We know the best is yet to come.”