Jeff Copp enters his fourth season at FIU and his second year as Co-Defensive Coordinator, overseeing the Panther linebackers. Copp was the safeties coach his first two seasons at FIU.
Alongside Co-Defensive Coordinator Jerod Kruse in 2019, the Panther defense was a stout group in the secondary as FIU ranked 17th overall in the nation for passing yards allowed per game (195.0). FIU also defended well in the pass efficiency category (117.64), ranking 23rd in the country. The ball hawking Panthers picked off 12 passes in 2019, which placed FIU 31st overall in the country and aided in Stantley Thomas-Oliver III being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Copp took over the linebackers in addition to his co-defensive coordinator duties in 2019. The linebacker group was led by Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, Sage Lewis. Despite being hampered by injuries during the year, Lewis led the team in tackles (93) and was followed closely behind by fellow linebacker Jamal Gates (85) who ranked second the team. The linebacker group was responsible for nine turnovers as well, which helped the Panthers rank in the top half of the conference for forced turnovers.
Copp coached a ball-hungry group in 2018 that ranked second in C-USA and 11th nationally for total interceptions (17). Additionally, the 194.1 passing yards per game in 2018 ranked as 30th overall in the country. Copp’s starting safeties, Dorian Hall and Olin Cushion III, ranked third and fifth on the team for tackles last season after collecting 65 and 46 respectively. Hall’s successful season landed him C-USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2018.
The 2017 campaign saw Copp's defensive backs help the Panther defense hold opponents to 10 points or less four times. Panthers defenders recovered 11 fumbles to lead C-USA and rank 19th nationally. Copp's defensive backs were part of a defense that was hard to finish drives against as the Panthers placed fifth in C-USA in red zone defense, but 30th overall. Under Copp's leadership cornerback Brad Muhammad earned second team All-CUSA honors.
Copp comes to FIU after spending one season (2016) at Northern Arizona as the Lumberjacks’ special teams coordinator. Prior to his stint at NAU, Copp coached at UC Davis for seven seasons. Copp joined the UC Davis football program as a safeties coach in 2009, before coaching the Aggies' defensive backfield and special teams from 2011-12. Copp coached the linebackers for three seasons from 2013-15.
UC Davis led all NCAA Div. I (FCS) teams in net punting (41.4 avg.) and kickoff returns (26.4 avg.) in 2012. Additionally, senior punter Colton Schmidt was named All-Big Sky Conference first team after averaging 44.5 yards per attempt, sixth-best in the FCS, and in 2015 began his second year as the starting punter for the Buffalo Bills.
His linebackers also excelled. Linebacker Steven Pitts earned All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades in 2013 after posting 74 tackles, a team-high 11.5 TFLs and four sacks for 35 yards in losses. He repeated All-Big honors in 2014.
Prior to joining the Aggies, Copp spent the previous four seasons as a safeties and special teams coach at Utah State under former FIU Defensive Coordinator Brent Guy. Prior to his tenure in Logan, Copp served as a defensive ends coach at Idaho State in 2004 and as a graduate assistant at Arizona State from 2001 to 2003.
Copp, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, played collegiately at Boise State, where he was named All-Big West as a defensive end. Copp also helped the Broncos to a pair of Humanitarian Bowl wins, over Louisville in 1999 and UTEP in 2000. Copp earned his Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences from Boise State in 2001 then added a Master's Degree in Higher Education at ASU in 2003.
