Hunkie Cooper Hernandez James Cooper ( born May 17 , 1969 in Palestine , Texas ) is a former American football receiver and linebacker who played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League until his retirement in 2005 . He is a two time recipient of the Ironman of the Year award and was voted league MVP in 1993 . Early life . Hunkie Cooper was the son of a military veteran and the youngest , and shortest , of 5 children . He received the name Hernandez from a pact his father had made to his best friend prior to the Vietnam War . The pact they made said that if either were to die , the other would name his next child after him . High school years . Cooper attended Westwood High School in Palestine , Texas and was a student and a letterman in football , basketball , and baseball . In football , he played quarterback . College years . Hunkie went on to play at Navarro College in Texas where he led the Bulldogs to a NJCAA national championship in 1989 . He soon transferred to University of Nevada , Las Vegas . At UNLV , he played six different positions , and he was a two - time All - Big West Conference selection . In a dramatic beginning to D1 Football in Hunkie ' s first game for Head Coach Jim Strong ' s UNLV Rebel ' s he scored Four Touchdowns from all over the field in the season opener verses Southwest Missouri . As a punt returner during his senior season he was selected as an All American . He received a B . A . in Criminal Law and Education in 1991 . Arena Football League career . After his time at UNLV , Hunkie believed his football career was over , so he took a job at a Las Vegas area casino . He tried playing in the Canadian Football League , but was not very successful . One day at work , Arizona Rattlers Director of Player Personnel Pete Kettela asked him if he would like to sign a contract with the Rattlers organization . 1993 . Hunkie arrived at camp as a fourth string receiver but quickly worked his way up the depth chart . By the end of the year he was selected as the league MVP , and an all - star as an Offensive Specialist . This was all after he broke the AFL record for kickoff return yards with 1423 yards . 1994 . Hunkie helped take the team to their first ArenaBowl appearance , which they won 36 - 31 . His Daughter Brianna ( Now 15 years of age ) was born in October . 1995 . After a great year he was again selected as an all - star specialist . 1996 . A year after making the transition to a two way receiver and linebacker , he was selected as an all star once again . His son Austin ( Now 14 years of age ) was born in January 1997 . Hunkie was a second team all star selection . He helped lead the team to their second ArenaBowl win and was voted as Ironman of the game after catching a 30 yard touchdown pass , returning a kick for a touchdown , and returning an interception for a touchdown . 1999 . He was voted Tinactin Ironman of the Year , Second Team All - Arena - WR / LB , and All - Ironman Team . 2000 . He was again voted Tinactin Ironman of the Year , First Team All - Arena - WR / LB , and All - Ironman Team - WR / LB . 2001 . Once again he was selected to the All - Ironman Team - WR / LB and for the first time was a First Team member of the 15th Anniversary Team - WR / LB . 2002 - 2004 . He helped lead the team to three consecutive appearances in the ArenaBowl . 2005 . Cooper began the season on Injured Reserve , missing the first two games of the season with a quadriceps injury . He soon retired after being cut . Stats . Cooper is one of only two players to earn both AFL MVP ( 1993 ) and Ironman of the Year awards ( 1999 , 2000 ) in a career . He is also one of two players to earn Ironman awards twice . He finished his career as Arizona ' s all - time leader in receiving yards ( 8 , 559 ) , receptions ( 776 ) , forced fumbles ( 7 ) , fumble recoveries ( 11 ) and touchdowns ( 205 ) . Cooper is also the Arena Football League ' s all - time leader in all - purpose yardage ( 20 , 587 ) and kickoff returns ( 500 ) . Retirement . After being cut by the Rattlers in 2005 , he decided to retire . On May 6 , 2005 , the Arizona Rattlers retired his # 14 . He later became an assistant coach for the Utah Blaze under his former coach Danny White . Cooper resides in North Las Vegas , Nevada . Hunkie is married to his wife , Tiffany and has six children : Nigel ( 23 ) , Dirik ( 22 ) , Simone ( 21 ) , Brianna ( 15 ) , A . J . ( 14 ) , and Destini ( 11 ) . Notes . While coaching with the Utah Blaze , Hunkie also served as an assistant coach with Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas . In 2009 Hunkie was named the head coach at Canyon Springs High School and was also named Coach of the Year . He also served as an assistant coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas .