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Entering his fourth season as the safeties coach is Jeff Copp, who also handles punt and kickoff coverage teams. Copp spent the 2004 season at Idaho State coaching defensive ends before coming to Logan. In 2005, three of his players were among USU's top six tacklers in Antonio Taylor (third with 65 stops), Terrance Washington (fourth with 60) and Andre Bala (sixth with 49). The 2006 season saw Antonio Taylor lead USU in tackles with 74 stops which ranked 14th in the WAC and was the first non-linebacker to lead USU in tackles in a season since 1978. Two others were in the top five on the team in Caleb Taylor (fourth with 64 tackles) and Terrance Washington (fifth with 58). Last season, C. Taylor led the Aggies with seven pass break-ups, in addition to also leading the team with 8.5 tackles for loss, as part of his 81 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team. A pair of safeties, James Brindley and Roy Hurst shared the team lead with three interceptions apiece last season. Brindley also led USU with 96 interception return yards, a total that ranked fourth in the WAC and ninth on USU's single-season list. With 84 tackles, Brindley was also third on the team and tied for fourth in the WAC with two fumble recoveries. Copp was an all-conference defensive end as a player at Boise State when Brent Guy was as assistant coach there and Copp also worked with the Aggie head coach for three seasons at Arizona State. Copp began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arizona State working with the safeties for three years from 2001-03. He spent one season as a full-time assistant at Idaho State in 2004 before joining the USU staff. At Boise State, Copp was part of the Broncos' back-to-back league championship teams that advanced to the Humanitarian Bowl in 1999 and 2000. "Jeff played at Boise State and was a member of two Big West Conference championship teams," Guy said when he hired Copp. "He is an outstanding young coach and is a rising star in this business." Born May 8, 1978, the 30-year old grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho and played football, basketball and baseball at Skyline High School where he was a two-time all-state selection in both football and baseball. He earned his bachelor's degree in health sciences from Boise State in 2001 and a master's degree in higher education from Arizona State in 2003. He is married to the former Amanda Konzelman. Coaching Experience 2001-03 Arizona State Safeties (G.A.) 2004 Idaho State Defensive Ends 2005- Utah State Safeties |
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