Danny White is considered to be among the best coaches the Arena Football League has ever seen.
His effectiveness, however, would be limited if it weren't for the supporting staff — especially his assistant coaches — who are working to turn the Utah Blaze into an Arena Bowl contender.
"This is a staff with three head coaches," Blaze defensive coordinator Hunkie Cooper said. "I still have a lot to learn, but who better to learn from?"
Cooper has a point. White is the current head coach and an AFL Hall of Famer. Ron James, who is the team's director of player personnel and the line coach, was formerly the head coach of the Las Vegas team and has 10 years of AFL coaching experience with various franchises.
Cooper, while not a head coach yet, said it's only a matter of time before he gets a head coaching job. For now, though, he's content learning from some of the best the game has seen while pulling tricks out of his bag from his 12-year playing career which will make his job easier and, hopefully, make the team better.
Since hanging up his helmet three years ago, Cooper admits he's changed a lot in his approach to each game.
"I've been much more mature," he said, noting his competitive nature played a role in how he coached during games. "I'm still aggressive. But it's a silent aggression."
James arrived in Utah last season after leaving the floundering Las Vegas franchise. In his second season with the Blaze, James has been made the director of player personnel and was directly involved in attracting various defensive free agents to the team as Utah tries to shore up what has been a porous unit.
"Ron did a great job in getting a pass rush," Cooper said. "He's got a great reputation with players around the league and they know what to expect. That's one reason they decide to come here."
Of course, Cooper's reputation is about as good as it gets in the AFL.
His playing career will almost certainly result in a Hall of Fame berth sometime in the future. As a member of the Arizona Rattlers, Cooper had 776 receptions, 8,559 receiving yards and 205 touchdowns. He also was the AFL's all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 20,587 when he retired. He was the 1993 AFL MVP and the league's Ironman of the Year twice.
Though he's no longer strapping on the pads, Cooper's stature is undeniable.
"I know these guys respect me," he said. "They know I've been there and I know what will help this team improve."
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