Decision Maker

Michael Cooper

St. Tammany Parish President

Louisiana

Michael Jerome Cooper is an American basketball coach and former professional player, celebrated for his exceptional defensive skills on the court. Cooper spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won five championships during the team's renowned Showtime era. An eight-time NBA All-Defensive Team selectee, Cooper was recognized as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. In 2024, Cooper's outstanding contributions to the sport were honored with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Lakers announced plans to retire his No. 21 jersey in January 2025. Beyond his basketball career, Cooper holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography and City and Regional Planning from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Additionally, he has served as President of St. Tammany Parish and Mayor of Covington, with professional experience as a Zone Sales Manager at Nextel and a Sales role at Real Living Mauti Meredith Scoggin.