Miami Hall of Famer Gary Cooper Passes Away
5/27/2026 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
Former Miami University baseball player Gary Cooper passed away on Monday, May 25. He was 74 years old. Cooper was a four-year letterwinner from 1970-73 under coach Bud Middaugh.
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As Miami University's first baseball All-American, Cooper remains one of only 11 players in program history to earn the distinction. He was recognized as a CoSIDA Academic All-American and Academic All-District selection in both 1971 and 1972, while also earning Academic All-MAC honors in 1972 and 1973. A three-time All-MAC recipient, Cooper received first-team honors in 1972 as both a second baseman and pitcher, along with second-team honors in 1971 as a shortstop and again in 1973 as a second baseman and pitcher.
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In his standout 1972 campaign, Cooper hit .421, which was a program record that stood for over 20 years and still ranks third-best in school history. That season, he also paced the conference in six offensive categories. Nicknamed "Coop," he played a key role in leading Miami to its first MAC Championship in 1973, when the Red and White compiled a 14-4 conference record and finished the year ranked No. 14 nationally.
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During his four seasons with the program, Cooper helped guide the Red and White to an impressive 111-39 overall record. The team recorded a 32-10 mark in 1971 and never finished lower than third in the MAC during his career. Cooper was inducted into the Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
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As Miami University's first baseball All-American, Cooper remains one of only 11 players in program history to earn the distinction. He was recognized as a CoSIDA Academic All-American and Academic All-District selection in both 1971 and 1972, while also earning Academic All-MAC honors in 1972 and 1973. A three-time All-MAC recipient, Cooper received first-team honors in 1972 as both a second baseman and pitcher, along with second-team honors in 1971 as a shortstop and again in 1973 as a second baseman and pitcher.
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In his standout 1972 campaign, Cooper hit .421, which was a program record that stood for over 20 years and still ranks third-best in school history. That season, he also paced the conference in six offensive categories. Nicknamed "Coop," he played a key role in leading Miami to its first MAC Championship in 1973, when the Red and White compiled a 14-4 conference record and finished the year ranked No. 14 nationally.
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During his four seasons with the program, Cooper helped guide the Red and White to an impressive 111-39 overall record. The team recorded a 32-10 mark in 1971 and never finished lower than third in the MAC during his career. Cooper was inducted into the Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
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