Alum Michael Cooper Returns To PCC For Sparks Exhibition Basketball Game
by PCC Sports Information
Michael Cooper, a Pasadena City College Hall of Fame men's basketball legend and later a NBA top defensive wizard for the Los Angeles Lakers, is returning to PCC as the head coach of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. On Saturday, May 7, Cooper's Dream squad plays the Los Angeles Sparks in an exhibition game at PCC's Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. Tip-off is 4 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for $15 and any kid is free (14-and-under) with the purchase of an adult ticket. To purchase tickets, call 844-Go-Sparks or e-mail to:
tickets@la-sparks.com .
Cooper played as a Lancer back in 1974-76 and was a 1,000-point plus scorer at PCC. He participated on five NBA World Champion Lakers teams in a 12-year pro career. Cooper coached the Sparks to two WNBA title teams in 2001-2002 and from 2009-2013 he served as head coach of the USC Trojans women's basketball team. He has been coaching the Atlanta franchise since 2014.
Lancers current women's basketball head coach Joe Peron coordinated efforts to have PCC host the exhibition contest.
"Michael Cooper is a Pasadena legend, and what better venue to have him return to PCC then through a game between his current and former teams," Peron said. "His Hall of Fame plaque is up on our wall on the first floor outside the H-P Gym."
Cooper is also a member of the CCCAA State Hall of Fame, inducted in 2010.