Brian Cooley

Biography

Brian Cooley joined the University of Minnesota coaching staff in March of 2025 after a four-year stint at Colorado State. Cooley was also an assistant coach under Niko Medved during his CSU tenure. Cooley was at Colorado State from 2021-25 where he helped the Rams to three NCAA tournament berths in four seasons. Working with the Rams’ big men, he oversaw the development of All-American and first round NBA draft pick David Roddy. He also oversaw one of the most efficient shooting seasons in program history from another CSU big man in Patrick Cartier in 2022-23. Prior to Colorado State, Cooley spent five seasons at Wright State (2016-21), the last four as the associate head coach. He also served as the Raiders’ recruiting coordinator. Cooley helped the program to an overall record of 109-49, three conference championships and three postseason bids. He helped Wright State to the NCAA Tournament in 2018. Cooley was at South Dakota State for nine seasons from 2007-18, the last seven as an assistant coach and the first two as a graduate assistant. While in Brookings, he saw 154 wins, 121 of those over the final five seasons, all five ending with a postseason berth. Three times SDSU went to the NCAA Tournament with Cooley on staff. The program picked up its first-ever postseason win in 2015 when it defeated Colorado State in the first round of the NIT. Cooley started his coaching career as an assistant coach for Bellevue East High School in Bellevue, Nebraska during the 2006-07 sea