Piedmont coach dies

DEMOREST - The women's head basketball coach at Piedmont College in Demorest has died.

Charles Cooper, 73, died Monday at the Wesley Woods Health Center in Atlanta. Cooper had been there since having heart surgery in April.

Cooper reached a basketball coaching milestone last season when his Lady Lions posted a 79-66 victory over Maryville College on Jan. 30. The win was Cooper's 1,000th career victory as a basketball coach with his successful career spanning both the high school and collegiate levels.

Last season was his eighth season as head coach of the Piedmont College women's basketball program after coming out of retirement after 13 successful years at NCAA Division-II Valdosta State University.

At Valdosta State University, Cooper's squads claimed a pair of Gulf South Athletic Conference championships. Prior to his stint at VSU, Cooper was the head girls basketball coach at Lowndes County in Valdosta where he posted a 274-37 record. He led LCHS to four consecutive Georgia High School Association AAAA state championships and his teams were selected as the high school national champion on four different occasions.

Cooper also coached the LCHS boys basketball program and compiled a 372-170 record as the Vikings' head coach. At one point, Cooper's teams won 124 consecutive games.

The funeral will be Friday in Valdosta at 2:00 at Northside Baptist Church. A memorial service is expected to be held at Piedmont College at a time and place to be announced.

The Piedmont College Web site contributed to this story.