DURHAM, N.C. – Josh Cooperwood has been named an assistant coach for the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball program by head coach Vanessa Taylor on Friday.

“I am really excited to get a chance to join the NCCU family and to work for Coach Taylor,” said Cooperwood. “You will not find a better person to work for with her vision, values, and what she stands for as a person and as a coach. I'm ready to learn from her each and every day, and do whatever she needs me to do for the women's basketball program here at North Carolina Central University.”

Cooperwood is leaving his alma mater to come to NCCU. He has spent the past four years on the Tennessee State University women’s basketball coaching staff and was part of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championship team that went to the NCAA Tournament in 2015.

“We are extremely excited about the addition of Josh Cooperwood to our staff,” Taylor said. “He is very organized, energetic and strategic in his coaching philosophy. Josh will play a key role in the development of our guard and post play. He has a strong basketball mind, and will serve as our scout coordinator and assist with strategic game play.”  

Cooperwood played basketball at Tennessee State and later started his coaching career as a student assistant with his TSU men’s basketball program. He played two seasons for the Tigers and was named All-OVC as a senior.

As a standout player, Cooperwood went on to play eight years of professional basketball in Canada, Mexico and overseas in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Croatia, Kuwait, Egypt and Iran.

Cooperwood’s first three seasons with the Tennessee State women’s basketball team was as director of basketball operations before being promoted to assistant coach for his final year in Nashville. He served as the program’s recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator as well in those roles.

“Coach Cooperwood has been a winner at all levels that he has played and coached, beginning with high school in Nashville, college at Tennessee State and professional play overseas,” stated Taylor. “He has great collegiate coaching experiences on the women’s and men’s side of the game. Those experiences shall serve him well as he has been able to develop strong recruitment contacts. Josh was instrumental in recruiting and helping coach the Tennessee State women’s basketball team to a conference championship in 2015, where they went on to play in the NCAA Tournament.”

The Nashville native graduated from TSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice.

Cooperwood began his collegiate career at Chattanooga State Community College, where he was an NJCAA All-American before earning an associate’s degree.