East Texas A&M University Athletics

Blake Cooper was a two-time Captain and All-Lone Star Conference football player at East Texas State University and has returned to Commerce to make his mark on the community.
 
After earning his bachelor's and master's degrees from ETSU, Cooper was an instructor/coach at ETSU as well as school districts of Sheldon, Sulphur Springs, Garland and Winnsboro.  He became head football coach at Edgewood High School which led into high school principal and then served as an assistant superintendent at Kaufman ISD.
 
He was named Superintendent of Commerce ISD in 2008 where he helped the district increase its enrollment, raise teacher salaries and improve the overall academic reputation in the region.  Cooper also played a significant role in improving relations between the district and the university throughout his tenure. In recognition for his work, Cooper was named the Region 10 ESC Superintendent of the Year in 2015. Cooper left Commerce ISD earlier this year and now serves as the Executive Director of Friends of Texas Public Schools, a non-profit organization that advocates for public education throughout the state of Texas
 
Aside from work, he currently volunteers his time helping support Lion Athletics through the periodic e-newsletter called The Lions Lair to over 250 recipients around the world along with a monthly financial commitment to The Lions Champions Fund.  Cooper is the founder of the Facebook Page, "Dallas Morning News, Please cover the Texas A&M Commerce Lion Athletics" that has almost 1,000 followers. He is a member of the TAMU-C Athletic Council and has served on several search committees for the university.
 
He is married to wife, Tammy, and their family includes Wesley, Kelsey and grandson Clark; Robert, Emily and grandson Luke, with twins due in December; and daughter Rebekah who is a senior at Texas A&M University-Commerce.