John Cooper ( American football ) John Cooper ( born July 2 , 1937 ) is a former American football player and coach . He served as the head coach at the University of Tulsa ( 1977 – 1984 ) , Arizona State University ( 1985 – 1987 ) , and Ohio State University ( 1988 – 2000 ) , compiling a career record of 192 – 84 – 6 . Cooper was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2008 . Early years and playing career . Cooper grew up in the Knoxville suburb of Powell , Tennessee and joined the United States Army after high school . After serving for two years , he enrolled at Iowa State University where he played football for three years eventually becoming team captain and MVP . Coaching career . Cooper spent time as an assistant coach at Iowa State , Oregon State , UCLA , Kansas , and Kentucky . In 1977 , he was named the head football coach at the University of Tulsa . At Tulsa , he compiled a 56 – 32 record with five Missouri Valley Conference titles . He became the head coach at Arizona State in 1985 where his teams played in three consecutive bowl game s , including the 1987 Rose Bowl , during his three - year tenure . Notably , he was just 0 – 2 – 1 against arch - rival Arizona . He accepted the job as head coach at Ohio State on December 31 , 1987 . It is rumored that he became the front - runner for the head coaching position at Ohio State because of his 1987 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan . Cooper ' s first season in Columbus was somewhat undistinguished ; the Buckeyes notched their first losing season since 1966 . However , he quickly turned the Buckeyes around and led them to shared Big Ten titles in 1993 , 1996 , and 1998 . In his 13 seasons at Ohio State Cooper compiled a 111 – 43 – 4 record , second in Ohio State history behind only Woody Hayes . Among his most memorable victories at Ohio State were back - to - back victories against Notre Dame ( 1995 & 1996 ) , leading Ohio State to its first Rose Bowl in 13 years ( the 1997 Rose Bowl - - a win over Arizona State ) , and a 1999 Sugar Bowl victory over Texas A & M . Cooper ' s teams at Ohio State were loaded with a great deal of talent that would go on to play in the NFL , including : 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George , 1995 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner Terry Glenn , 1996 Outland Trophy winner Orlando Pace , 1998 Jim Thorpe Award winner Antoine Winfield , Alonzo Spellman , Robert Smith , Dan Wilkinson , Joey Galloway , Rickey Dudley , Mike Vrabel , Korey Stringer , David Boston , Shawn Springs , Ahmed Plummer , Na ' il Diggs , Nate Clements , and Ryan Pickett . However , Cooper will be remembered for his 3 - 8 bowl record and his 2 – 10 – 1 record against rival Michigan . His most crippling losses to the Wolverines came in 1993 , 1995 , and 1996 ; each season , Ohio State entered the Michigan game undefeated and ranked in the top five , but came away with a gut - wrenching loss . In 1993 Ohio State was ranked # 5 and heavily favored , only to be shut out by the Wolverines 28 - 0 and denied its first trip to Pasadena in almost 10 years . In 1995 Ohio State lost a # 2 ranking , the Big Ten title , and another shot at the Rose Bowl by losing to the Wolverines , 31 – 23 , in Ann Arbor . In 1996 , the Buckeyes were again ranked # 2 and had already secured a Rose Bowl berth when they faced Michigan . The Buckeyes smelled victory after shutting out the Wolverines in the first half , but Michigan rallied in the second half to upset the Buckeyes yet again , 13 - 9 , costing them a chance at the national championship . Ohio State would go on to win the 1997 Rose Bowl against Arizona State and finish the season ranked # 2 . With this victory , Cooper became the first coach to win the Rose Bowl with a Pac - 10 and a Big Ten team . In 1997 Ohio State smelled revenge as it was Michigan who entered the game undefeated and Ohio State with the chance to play spoiler . However , the Wolverines again defeated the Buckeyes , 20 - 14 . To add insult to injury , Michigan ' s win was sparked by the spectacular performance of Ohio native and 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson , who made big plays on offense , defense , and special teams . Cooper ' s Buckeyes were expected to have a strong season in 1999 , but slumped to 6 - 6 - - their first non - winning record since Cooper ' s first year . They rebounded to 8 - 4 a year later , but a 38 - 26 flogging by Michigan cost Cooper his job at the end of the season . Later life and honors . Cooper currently works for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL as a scouting consultant and also works as a college football analyst for ESPN . On May 1 , 2008 , Cooper was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame . He will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 30 , 2012 representing both Arizona State and Ohio State football teams .