Dave Cooper

2008 inductee

Dave Cooper was born and raised in Union City where he graduated as part of the class of 1965. Mr. Cooper returned to Union City and taught for 31 years in the health and physical education department. During his time at Union City he was best known for the success of his cross country program.

During his 28 years as head coach, he took a fledgling program and built it into one of the most recognizable cross country programs in the state. His runners and teams had enormous success which included: 19 boys FCVC titles, 10 girls FCVC titles, 107 all-county runners, 19 all-state runners, 4 boys District 10 team titles, 1 girls District 10 team title, a PIAA boys runner-up team in 1990, and 2 straight PIAA team titles in 1996 and 1997.

Mr. Cooper was also inducted into the Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and listed as one of the “Coaches of the Century” by the Erie Times News in 2000. Mr. Cooper resides in Union City and currently coaches Track and Cross Country with his son Greg at Penn St. Behrend. We thank Coach Cooper for his years of teaching and coaching at Union City and welcome him to the Wall of Achievement.