Michael Cooper, 12 year NBA playing veteran and winning coach, is back as L.A.'s skipper.
Los Angeles has legends like Jerry West to thank for the city's first professional basketball title in 1972. Phil Jackson brought 3 later ones. Magic Johnson, 5.
Michael Cooper has 7, and he's anxious to add more, as he comes back to the city of angels.
The 12-year veteran Laker, involved in all five of the team's 80's titles (1980, 82, 85, 87, 88), returns to coach the WNBA's L.A. Sparks, where he amassed his 6th and 7th championship victories (2001, 02) in his initial era as their skipper ('00-'04).
"It's great to be back," Cooper says. "I look to win a championship every year...it's a great challenge."
The 8-time NBA All Defensive Team selection is re-appointed by the Sparks after completing brief coaching stints in the NBA and its Development League. Originally hired by the Denver Nuggets as an assistant in 2004, he was the acting head coach for one month while Denver looked for the man they brought on as the permanent leader, George Karl. In 2006, Cooper guided the D-League's Albuquerque Thunderbirds to a championship.
It's Cooper's history and reputation in L.A. though that add meaning to his return there.
"I couldn't see myself going to another team, and tearing this down by coming back and trying to beat them," he says. "It's fabulous here. We have people that know how to win."
Indeed. The Sparks were last year's best-in-the-west, finishing 25-9 (15-2 at home). They were the favorite to represent the Western Conference in the WNBA Finals, but lost a heartbreaking Conference Finals affair to the Sacramento Monarchs, 2-0 (Detroit beat Sacramento for the title 3-2).
Nowadays though, L.A.'s roster differs greatly from Cooper's first coaching epoch. Teresa Weatherspoon has retired. Nikki Teasley and Delisha Milton-Jones are now in Washington. Mwadi Mabika remains, but her 10-year teammate and WNBA icon Lisa Leslie is out for 2007, as she will be giving birth to her first child early in the summer.
"The key is to get them to understand how the Sparks win basketball games," admits Cooper, regarding the ladies he's just getting to know. "We've got Jessica Moore who's played on championship teams, Sidney Spencer who's coming off a win with Tennessee...our goal is to work with the new people. That's a challenge, and it's one that I'm looking forward to."
Cooper has made such challenges look easy in the past. His first campaign with the Sparks (2000) garnered a 28-4 record, still the team's best ever. He also holds a 116-31 (.789) record with L.A. in his time as head coach.
Some returning Spark veterans say they enjoy being on Cooper's side of the court now, having played against him in the past.
"I'm liking everything that Coop is doing," says center/forward Murriel Page, embarking on her 10th year in the league, second in L.A. "He's a defensive coach, and I pride myself on defense."
And, defense or offense, one word represents the Sparks' focus.
"The one thing you look for in L.A. is you've got to win," says proud Sparks General Manager Penny Toler. "We've got some very, very talented players, and it's great to have Coop back."
If the near future is anything like the past for Mr. Cooper, it's sure to bring the same grandiose glory.
"I'm not sure how it happened," he says about being invited by Toler to come back. "Things just fell into place...there's always been a lot of love here."
The Sparks start on the road against the Chicago Sky on May 22nd, and will host Minnesota in their home opener, Friday, June 8th.
