Grace Cooper - Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Head Coach Grace Cooper enters her 14th season at the helm of Panther Women's Soccer. In the last 13 seasons, Coach Grace has taken her teams to CCCAA playoffs ten times and captured three conference championships including back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019. Grace has built the Women's Soccer program into one of the most highly respected and competitive community college programs in California.
Coach Grace is a community college alumna attending Fullerton College playing for the Hornets before transferring to CSU Fullerton where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in kinesiology. While at Fullerton, Grace began her coaching career, coaching college, high school, and club soccer. "Soccer has always been a part of my life. Once my soccer career ended, I knew I wanted to coach because I couldn’t imagine a life without soccer."
For Grace, soccer is about family. "Soccer started VERY early for me. Both my parents were born in Italy and soccer is considered the ONLY sport in the country. My dad had this huge satellite dish installed so we could get the Italian Serie A games live from Italy. So every Sunday we would wake up at 5:30am to watch a game. My dad was a Juventus fan, so we all followed." Keeping soccer in the family continues today - Grace is married to Chaffey's Men's Soccer Coach Ben Cooper. "We have a blast coaching together it really feels like I have a partner not only in life but work!" The pair, along with their two young daughters and extended family can be seen at nearly every home game cheering on the teams.
Having seen both sides of the bench, Coach Grace brings a very personal perspective to her coaching. As an assistant coach at her alma mater, she remembers, "I went from an athlete right into a coaching role at the collegiate level. It allowed me to see and learn from both sides of the field. There are so many things you don’t see as an athlete and vice versa." "Being a student-athlete requires time management," Grace emphasizes. "We all have the same hours in a day, it’s just how well you use them that will lead to success."
Grace's success on the field comes from hardwork and a strong recruiting effort culling from the area's local talent. "Our program has a great reputation; not only a successful winning record, but we are able to transfer out numerous student athletes to four-year universities. Chaffey has everything for everyone. Chaffey allows all students the opportunity to get a college degree/certification in the most affordable way AND compete at a high level of soccer." Her transfer success rate speaks for itself with student-athletes headed to top NCAA schools. She likes to remind her players, " Keep reaching for your academic and athletic goals. Your growth is endless!"
"I hope my players not only become better athletes but stronger and more determined people. To know how to work hard, strive for big things and to take skills learned through sport into their real life. For me, Panther Pride means beign proud of your time at Chaffey; being part of an amazing college and team!"
With three conference titles (in three different conferences), Coach Grace has built a program that is highly ranked at the national, state and regional level. Last season, the Panthers captured the inaugural Inland Empire Athletic Conference title defeating longtime rival San Bernardino Valley at home. With MANY highlights over her 14 years at Chaffey, Coach Cooper's favorite moment was very personal. She shared, "My last game right before I gave birth to my first daughter (Sofia); I didn’t know this but, my assistant coach Daniel Fox had coordinated that when we scored the athletes were going to celebrate by running over to me on the sideline and rubbing my belly. It was the sweetest and nicest thing my team has ever done. She was due right at the beginning of season and I hoped that I could make it to the season opener. She waited until later that night to come into the world. Looking back, I believe I was having small contractions during the game."
During the stay-at-home order, the Coopers have been enjoying time as a family but Grace has missed interacting and training with her students and athletes. "I want to play soccer!" In the fall, she sees the Panthers stronger than ever. "I have a great freshman class coming in and I think this pandemic has made the desire to want to get back on the field even stronger. Not only for the athletes but for the coaches. We will come back playing harder than before!"