The Cotuit Athletic Association (“CAA”) - the sponsoring organization of the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League (“CCBL”) - is pleased to announce that Rob Cooper has been hired as the Kettleers’ head coach for the 2026 season.

Coach Cooper brings 30 years of coaching experience to the Kettleers. After spending 10 years as an assistant coach at programs including Wake Forest, Tulane and Oral Roberts universities, he served as head coach at Wright State for nine years, followed by 10 years leading the Penn State baseball program. He then spent two years as Director of Program Development with the Miami (Fla.) baseball program, and now serves as head baseball coach at Ave Maria University in Naples, Fla.

During coach Cooper’s tenure at these prestigious institutions, he has developed strong, lasting relationships with college coaches, professional baseball scouts and agents that will serve the Kettleers and the CAA well. He also brings significant experience with the MLB Draft process and with international baseball competition. His extensive experience will be an asset to the CAA as he addresses challenges facing all premier summer collegiate baseball leagues, including name, image and likeness (“NIL”) policies, roster management, NCAA summer baseball rules and guidelines, and the transfer portal.

Coach Cooper’s focus has always been on results. He materially improved the competitiveness of the Penn State baseball program. He coached the USA Baseball’s 18U National Team to a gold medal shortly after accepting the Penn State position, helped the USA Collegiate National Team to a silver medal and coached his Wright State team to three league championships. In 2013, coach Cooper received the Rod Dedeaux USA Baseball Coach of the Year, joining Tommy Lasorda, Davey Johnson and Scott Brosius as winners of this prestigious award.

Finally, his experience building coaching and management infrastructures to support premier collegiate athletes will help the CAA create a baseball organization designed to continue to thrive in the future.

Asked about his decision to join the Kettleers’ organization, coach Cooper said: “I can’t wait to join the Kettleers organization and guide the program into the next phase of its incredible history. My family and I are looking forward to becoming active members of the Cotuit community and the Kettleers’ family. I will do everything I can to help the young men and women within the organization to grow, to roll up my sleeves and work with the coaching staff, the CAA Board and the many volunteers who keep the organization functioning. I look forward to bringing the 20th CCBL championship to Cotuit!”

Kettleers general manager Bruce Murphy is looking forward to coach Cooper joining the organization. “The coaching staff and the organization are looking forward to Rob bringing his energy and deep experience to our team. We are excited by the passion, dynamism and zest our new coach brings to the Kettleers and the CAA. His background and track record are reasons for optimism as we look to the future.”

The Kettleers open their 79th season at Lowell Park in the middle of June 2026.

Board of Directors

Fran Maycock (President), Stacy Wardwell (Vice President), Scott Hill (Vice President), Cheryl McPhillips (Secretary), Jared Palmer (Treasurer), Andy Bonacker, Paul Logan, Becky Manikas, Paul Manikas, Chuck McKenzie, Bruce Murphy, Roy Reiss, Leah Ridpath, Shelley Tomyl