Ron Cooper to Defensive Coordinator; Adds Bobby Babich as Secondary Coach
FIU Sports
FIU Head Coach Ron Turner announced on Friday the promotion of Assistant Head Coach Ron Cooper to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, as well as the addition of Bobby Babich (secondary coach/defensive pass-game coordinator) to fill the lone vacancy on the Panthers' staff.
Ron Cooper – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Cooper wrapped up his first season with the Panthers in 2015 as assistant head coach/secondary coach, overseeing a unit that recorded the sixth-most passes defended (51) and pass breakups (42) in school history. The Panthers had the second-best pass defense in Conference USA, allowing just 221.0 yards-per-game through the air (No. 62 nationally).
"Ron Cooper brings a lot of experience to the table," Turner said. "It was an easy decision to name him defensive coordinator. I know our players feel great about him, they have a lot of respect for him and we won't miss a beat with the defense. There will be a lot of carryover for our players with what we have done in the spring. There will be very little change. I know Ron will add his own wrinkles but will basically keep things similar, allowing our guys to play fast. I am excited about that."
Cooper coached Jeremiah McKinnon and Richard Leonard to all-conference honors as the two combined for 16 pass breakups and four interceptions. The secondary accounted for eight of the team's nine picks last season, including a pair for touchdowns (McKinnon -31 yards; Niko Gonzalez – 58 yards). Cooper has spent over 30 years in coaching, including three different stints as a defensive coordinator and three as a head coach on the collegiate level.
"I'm thrilled to be named defensive coordinator here at FIU", Cooper said. "I want to thank Coach Turner for this opportunity. We have a good group of guys on the defensive side of the ball. Our players have spent valuable time learning our system over the past year. Having been a part of that process, there will be very little change for them."
Bobby Babich – Secondary Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
Babich comes to FIU with a decade of experience, including seven years in the NFL.
"Bobby is someone I've known for several years," Turner said. "He comes from a football family and is extremely intelligent. I worked with his father, Bob Babich, who is a very respected coach in the NFL. Bobby relates well to the players. He has tremendous energy and is a very enthusiastic coach. I am excited about him as a coach and a recruiter."
Following a brief stint at Edinboro University (defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2016), Babich served as the assistant secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns the last three years, working with the safeties. During that time, he worked with the likes of All-Pros Joe Haden and T.J. Ward, along with Tashaun Gibson and Donte Whitner. Before joining the Browns, Babich spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a defensive assistant (2012) and administrative assistant for the coaching staff (2011). He assisted with day-to-day operations and worked with the nickelbacks. Prior to joining the Panthers, Babich served as secondary coach at Eastern Illinois University from 2007-10. In 2009, Babich's secondary was instrumental in helping the Panthers rank in the top 20 nationally in takeaways as Rashad Haynes and C.J. James each earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Babich began his coaching career in 2006 as a graduate assistant at Kent State. He worked with a secondary that featured future NFL Draft picks Usama Young (2007 third round, New Orleans) and Jack Williams (2008 fourth round, Denver). Babich was a four-year letterman as a cornerback at North Dakota State. He was a two-time academic all-conference honoree and led the team in interceptions as a senior. His father, Bob, has coached in the NFL since 2003 and is currently the linebackers coach for the San Diego Chargers after serving the last three years as the defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity that Coach Turner has given me," Babich said. "He has put together a very talented staff and is building a program that I'm thrilled to be a part of. I look forward to helping the FIU football team reach its goals."
Turner also announced on Friday the promotion of Kort Shankweiler to pass-game coordinator and Tim Harris, Jr., to run game coordinator in addition to their duties of quarterback/wide receivers coach and running backs coach, respectively.
Under Shankweiler, Alex McGough had one of the top seasons for a quarterback at FIU, setting the single-season records in completions (269), attempts (420), passing yards (2,722) and passing touchdowns (21). The receivers were led by Thomas Owens, who tied the school record for touchdown receptions in a season (8), while setting a new school record with a touchdown catch in six-straight games.
Under Harris, Jr., FIU's ground game totaled 15 rushing touchdowns (sixth-most in school history) last season. Alex Gardner rushed for 760 yards on 186 carries (No. 9 in C-USA) with nine rushing touchdowns (third-most in school history).
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For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.
2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1 INDIANA
Sept. 9 MARYLAND
Sept. 17 at Massachusetts
Sept. 24 UCF
Oct. 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
Oct. 8 at UTEP
Oct. 15 at Charlotte
Oct. 22 LOUISIANA TECH* (Homecoming)
Oct. 29 MIDDLE TENNESSEE*
Nov. 5 at WKU*
Nov. 19 MARSHALL*
Nov. 26 at Old Dominion*
* denotes Conference USA Games
Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;
Ron Cooper – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Cooper wrapped up his first season with the Panthers in 2015 as assistant head coach/secondary coach, overseeing a unit that recorded the sixth-most passes defended (51) and pass breakups (42) in school history. The Panthers had the second-best pass defense in Conference USA, allowing just 221.0 yards-per-game through the air (No. 62 nationally).
"Ron Cooper brings a lot of experience to the table," Turner said. "It was an easy decision to name him defensive coordinator. I know our players feel great about him, they have a lot of respect for him and we won't miss a beat with the defense. There will be a lot of carryover for our players with what we have done in the spring. There will be very little change. I know Ron will add his own wrinkles but will basically keep things similar, allowing our guys to play fast. I am excited about that."
Cooper coached Jeremiah McKinnon and Richard Leonard to all-conference honors as the two combined for 16 pass breakups and four interceptions. The secondary accounted for eight of the team's nine picks last season, including a pair for touchdowns (McKinnon -31 yards; Niko Gonzalez – 58 yards). Cooper has spent over 30 years in coaching, including three different stints as a defensive coordinator and three as a head coach on the collegiate level.
"I'm thrilled to be named defensive coordinator here at FIU", Cooper said. "I want to thank Coach Turner for this opportunity. We have a good group of guys on the defensive side of the ball. Our players have spent valuable time learning our system over the past year. Having been a part of that process, there will be very little change for them."
Bobby Babich – Secondary Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
Babich comes to FIU with a decade of experience, including seven years in the NFL.
"Bobby is someone I've known for several years," Turner said. "He comes from a football family and is extremely intelligent. I worked with his father, Bob Babich, who is a very respected coach in the NFL. Bobby relates well to the players. He has tremendous energy and is a very enthusiastic coach. I am excited about him as a coach and a recruiter."
Following a brief stint at Edinboro University (defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2016), Babich served as the assistant secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns the last three years, working with the safeties. During that time, he worked with the likes of All-Pros Joe Haden and T.J. Ward, along with Tashaun Gibson and Donte Whitner. Before joining the Browns, Babich spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a defensive assistant (2012) and administrative assistant for the coaching staff (2011). He assisted with day-to-day operations and worked with the nickelbacks. Prior to joining the Panthers, Babich served as secondary coach at Eastern Illinois University from 2007-10. In 2009, Babich's secondary was instrumental in helping the Panthers rank in the top 20 nationally in takeaways as Rashad Haynes and C.J. James each earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Babich began his coaching career in 2006 as a graduate assistant at Kent State. He worked with a secondary that featured future NFL Draft picks Usama Young (2007 third round, New Orleans) and Jack Williams (2008 fourth round, Denver). Babich was a four-year letterman as a cornerback at North Dakota State. He was a two-time academic all-conference honoree and led the team in interceptions as a senior. His father, Bob, has coached in the NFL since 2003 and is currently the linebackers coach for the San Diego Chargers after serving the last three years as the defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity that Coach Turner has given me," Babich said. "He has put together a very talented staff and is building a program that I'm thrilled to be a part of. I look forward to helping the FIU football team reach its goals."
Turner also announced on Friday the promotion of Kort Shankweiler to pass-game coordinator and Tim Harris, Jr., to run game coordinator in addition to their duties of quarterback/wide receivers coach and running backs coach, respectively.
Under Shankweiler, Alex McGough had one of the top seasons for a quarterback at FIU, setting the single-season records in completions (269), attempts (420), passing yards (2,722) and passing touchdowns (21). The receivers were led by Thomas Owens, who tied the school record for touchdown receptions in a season (8), while setting a new school record with a touchdown catch in six-straight games.
Under Harris, Jr., FIU's ground game totaled 15 rushing touchdowns (sixth-most in school history) last season. Alex Gardner rushed for 760 yards on 186 carries (No. 9 in C-USA) with nine rushing touchdowns (third-most in school history).
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For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.
2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1 INDIANA
Sept. 9 MARYLAND
Sept. 17 at Massachusetts
Sept. 24 UCF
Oct. 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
Oct. 8 at UTEP
Oct. 15 at Charlotte
Oct. 22 LOUISIANA TECH* (Homecoming)
Oct. 29 MIDDLE TENNESSEE*
Nov. 5 at WKU*
Nov. 19 MARSHALL*
Nov. 26 at Old Dominion*
* denotes Conference USA Games
Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;