Jon Cooper, as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, just won the Stanley Cup.

His journey to get there?

You won't even believe it.

Time for a thread

1) Jon Cooper, born and raised in British Columbia, grew up with one dream in mind.

"I wanted my name engraved on the Stanley Cup"

As he got older, those dreams started to fade.

Cooper was better at lacrosse than hockey, going on to play the former at Hofstra university.

2) At Hofstra, despite proving himself as an exceptional lacrosse player, Jon Cooper couldn't shake his love for hockey.

Cooper was notorious for checking box scores and obsessing over every NHL transaction.

"I read the sports page front to back, no matter how long it took.”

3) After graduating from Hofstra, Jon Cooper struggled to find his passion.

Cooper started his career working construction with his father, but eventually transitioned to a career on Wall Street.

The only problem?

He hated that too.

4) Unhappy with his career on Wall Street, Jon Cooper decided to take the LSAT — eventually attending Thomas Cooley Law School in Michigan.

While in school, Cooper played for a recreational hockey team full of judges & lawyers to stay in shape.

This is where it gets interesting

5) After passing the bar exam, Jon Cooper went looking for a job.

Cooper asked his hockey teammate, Judge Thomas Brennan, to help him become a public defender.

Brennan agreed, but with one stipulation — Cooper had to coach his sons high school hockey team.

Cooper accepted.

6) For the next few years, Jon Cooper would settle speeding tickets during the day and coach high school hockey at night.

“It was the worst team I ever coached, but the most fun I ever had.”

Cooper was instantly hooked, but "just needed to find a way to get paid to do it.”

7) After winning a few championships over 5+ years, Jon Cooper was presented a bigger opportunity.

Cooper was offered an NAHL coaching gig in Texarkana, Texas.

The catch?

The team was bad and the pay was low — Cooper said yes anyways.

“I’m a big ‘bet on myself’ guy.”

8) Jon Cooper's time coaching in Texas was quite the journey.

The team played in a rodeo barn, which attracted rats and mice, and Cooper was responsible for painting the ice, selling tickets, and designing the logo.

Cooper would still win 2 championships in his first 4 years.

9) Over the next 15 years, Jon Cooper made coaching stops all over the country — including St. Louis, Green Bay, Norfolk & Syracuse.

But everything changed in 2013, when the Lightning offered Cooper their head coaching job.

His reaction?

"I’ll be honest, I nearly shit myself”

10) Since being named head coach in 2013, Jon Cooper has turned the Tampa Bay Lightning into a powerhouse.

- Over 400 wins
- 6 playoff appearances
- 2020 Stanley Cup Champion

The funniest part?

After entering the NHL at 46, Cooper is now the longest tenured coach in the league

11) From lawyer to Stanley Cup Champion, Jon Cooper has one of the best stories in sports.

So what's his greatest advice?

Be present — "I'm not looking 20 years down the road, not even 5, I care about this year."

But what does Cooper know, he's just another overnight success.

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Sources:

https://www.nhlcoaches.com/how-jon-coopers-formative-years-playing-lacrosse-at-hofstra-sparked-his-unlikely-path/

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/the-unexpected-journey-of-lightning-coach-jon-cooper/2231799/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossports&stream=top

Cc: @lellerofficial & @CarlHagelin

Think you guys will enjoy this one