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Ben Cooprider joined the Pioneer coaching staff in the winter of 2009. He attended high school in DeKalb, Ill., and then attended Carleton College where he was a four-year starter in both football and baseball. At Carleton, he played baseball and football under Aaron Rushing, a former Â鶹´«Ã½ College coach and 2001 graduate. Cooprider began his coaching career with stints at Pine Crest Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he coached two unbeaten baseball teams, and The Blake's School in the Twin Cities.

He then joined the University of St. Thomas football staff, where he coached tight ends. During that span, he developed a first-team all-conference performer and an offense that ranked 16th nationally in sacks allowed. During that span, Cooprider helped the team turn a team with a 2-8 mark to a 7-3 squad that finished second in the conference. He is currently pursuing a master's degree from Concordia-St. Paul in organizational management with a sports management emphasis.