WSU baseball coach to lead Team USA's 18U team

WSU baseball manager Rob Cooper has been named the head coach for Team USA’s 18U team for 2013.

“I’m extremely honored and humbled,” Cooper said. “One of my goals as a coach was to be able to wear the USA uniform as a head coach, and play for a gold medal and a world championship. To get that opportunity to do that this summer—I’m really excited.”

Cooper was also on the coaching staff for the Team USA collegiate teams in 2007 and 2009. This will be Cooper’s first crack at a managerial position for Team USA.

Cooper hopes this position will benefit his Raider baseball team, which seeks their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.

“I hope this is a reflection of our success former players have had that I’ve been lucky enough to coach,” Cooper said. “Hopefully it’s something that as the Wright State community we can all look at and be proud of.”

This season will be Cooper’s ninth as manager of the WSU baseball program, which has seen seven straight seasons of 30 or more wins. Cooper reached the 250 career win mark last season when WSU defeated UIC 4-3 in April.

The 2013 WSU baseball season begins Feb. 15 in Cary, North Carolina when the Raiders take on the Temple Owls.