Carroll College Athletics

A two-time All-American, two-year captain and the single-season record holder for tackles, Gary Cooper was a four-year player and starter on three national championship teams.
 
As a junior in 2004, Cooper tied Joe Horn for the school record in tackles at 146 and was named the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the NAIA.net Defensive Player of the Year.  He helped lead the Saints to their third consecutive national championship, ranking third in the country for scoring defense and fourth in total defense. 
 
In 2005, he again led the Saints with 126 tackles, and anchored a squad that led the nation in total defense and scoring defense and for the third-consecutive season received Frontier All-Conference Honors. The Saints shut out two opponents in the playoffs and had a four-game scoring margin of 129-23.