Bill Cooper begins his first season as head men's and women's cross country and track & field coach at Marietta College in 2026-27.
Cooper comes to Marietta after a stint at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Heidelberg University. During his time with the Student Princes, his focus was on building a competitive indoor and outdoor track and field program which nearly doubled in roster size. Under his tutelage and training, Cooper coached many athletes that went on to achieve multiple men's and women's school records, a women's indoor 60-meter Conference Champion, and a second team All-American athlete.
Throughout his extensive coaching career, Cooper has held leadership positions at Sewanee: The University of the South (Tenn.), Randolph College (Va.), and Muskingum University, also directing the Men’s and Women's Cross Country programs at each institution. At every stop, he successfully expanded roster sizes, mentored numerous athletes to personal and school records, led teams to postseason championships, and guided competitors to NCAA Division III national qualification. He also earned the 2015-2016 ODAC Indoor Men’s Coach of the Year while at Randolph College.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Cooper enjoyed a highly distinguished collegiate athletic career. A 1996 Heidelberg College graduate, he excelled as a dual-sport athlete, serving as a four-year starter on the men’s soccer team while simultaneously competing all four years on the track and field team. He earned Most Valuable Player honors in track during each of his four seasons. His standout event was the 400-meter dash, in which he claimed an OAC championship, qualified for the NCAA National Championship twice, and earned All-American distinction in 1996.
Cooper and his wife, Christy Vanwinkle, have three children: Brittany, Alexis, and Kaleb
