Ron Cooper to LSU (DB Coach)

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South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is in the market for another assistant coach.

Safeties coach Ron Cooper has accepted a job at LSU as the Tigers' secondary coach, Cooper told The State on Monday.

The 46-year-old Cooper, who was the only remaining assistant from the Lou Holtz era, interviewed at LSU over the weekend.

"I just saw what they got going there. It was sort of unbelievable," Cooper said. "They got something special going there."

At 30, Cooper became the youngest black head coach in college football history when Eastern Michigan hired him before the 1993 season. The Alabama native had other head-coaching stops at Louisville and Alabama A&M.

He has been at USC since 2004. With Cooper's departure, receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. is the only remaining member from Spurrier's first USC staff in 2005.

Cooper received a three-year deal at LSU believed to be worth $300,000 a year. Cooper's one-year deal at USC was worth $175,000.

"I appreciate everything that coach Spurrier has done. Hopefully I've done something to help and add to the program. I wish them all the luck in the world," Cooper said. "This is an opportunity. I'm looking forward to going there. Every year I think they've got a chance to compete for a national championship."

Cooper said he was scheduled to interview with Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen about the Terps' defensive coordinator position.

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