A two-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) National Division II Coach of the Year, Lisa Cooper has spent more than 20 seasons at the helm of Cal State East Bay water polo with 327 career victories. She notched her 300th career win as Head Coach of the Pioneers on February 12, 2022 when the Pioneers defeated Salem University. She enters her 22nd year as Pioneers head coach in 2024.
In 2022, Cooper led CSUEB to the No. 1 seed in the West in the WWPA, as they went undefeated in regular season conference play and were 12-2 against NCAA Division II competition. CSUEB then went on to the WWPA title game which they lost in sudden victory overtime to Salem University. The 2022 Pioneers finished 15-15 overall.
The Pioneers had 3 All-Americans in 2022. Adrien Van Dyke was named to the 1st team and Auriel Bill and Daniella Passoni were 2nd team honorees. Adrien Van Dyke was also named WWPA conference player of the year. The 2022 team had 14 out of 15 players named Academic All-Americans as well as receiving Academic team honors for the 19th time out of her 20 years as head coach.
CSUEB did not compete in the 2021 season, and the 2020 season was shortened, both due to covid.
Cooper led CSUEB to a 15-15 overall mark in 2019, earning a third-place finish at the Western Water Polo Association Championship. Junior Auriel Bill and sophomore Adrien Van Dyke each earned First Team ACWPC All-America honors, while freshman goalkeeper Daniela Passoni received All-American Honorable Mention.
Cooper guided the Pioneers to one of their most successful seasons in 2018, led by Auriel Bill, CSUEB's first-ever WWPA Player of the Year and second Division II National Player of the Year. Cooper led the Pioneers to their fourth WWPA title game in five seasons and an 18-9 overall record, notching the highest winning percentage in program history. She was also named to the University's
2018 "40 Under 40" List, recognizing distinguished alumni.
In 2017, Cooper recorded her 250th career victory as she led the Pioneers to the No. 2 seed at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Tournament, the highest in program history. She was named Division II Coach of the Year by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) for the second time in her career.
From 2014-16, Cooper led CSUEB to three straight WWPA title games. She has previously collected the Collegiate III National Coach of the Year award as well as WWPA Coach of the Year honors during her tenure.
During her time with the Pioneers, Cooper has produced 46 All-Americans and 174 Academic All-Americans. She has produced the 2022 WWPA Player of the Year (Adrien Van Dyke), as well as the 2018 Division II National Player of the Year and WWPA Player of the Year (Auriel Bill), 2015 Division II Co-Player of the Year (Taylor Cross) and the 2008 Division III Player of the Year (Elise Wilehemsen).
The Australia native collected ACWPC Division II Coach of the Year and WWPA Coach of the Year honors in her first season in Division II in 2010.
Under Cooper in 2008, the Pioneers won their first-ever Collegiate III National Championship. The Pioneers (20-14) went 5-0 in the championships including a four-overtime victory over Cal Lutheran in the title match. The championship victory over Cal Lutheran was Cooper’s 100th win as coach of the Pioneer women’s water polo team and garnered her Collegiate III National Coach of the Year honors.
The 2008 Championship was the first national championship for the Cal State East Bay intercollegiate athletic program in 20 years. The Pioneers had five All-Americans in 2008, including goalkeeper Ellie Wilhelmsen, who was named Collegiate III National Player of the Year. In 2018, Wilhelmsen became the first female water polo player inducted into the Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame.
Cooper is the former chair of the NCAA women's water polo committee, as well as the NCAA men's and women's rules subcommittee. She currently serves as the coaches chair of the WWPA.
Coach Cooper's philosophy combines both academic and athletic excellence. She believes her athletes are students first and foremost, and sees water polo as an integral part of their overall college experience. Cooper believes that the overall development of her athletes is of the utmost importance, and this is taught through the life skills of teamwork, discipline, persistence, communication and dedication.
A native of Perth, Australia, Cooper started playing water polo at the age of 14. She was a member of the Western Australian State Junior Team that won national championships in 1996 and 1998. Cooper also was a member of the Australian National Youth and National Junior Teams. Cooper played collegiately at Hawai’i, where she was an All-American and Academic All-American, was the Rainbow Wahine’s top scholar athlete, leading goal scorer, and received the team’s most outstanding player award.
Cooper graduated from the University of Hawai’i with a degree in Health and Exercise Science, and completed her Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology at Cal State East Bay.
