Cooper is bringing in a veteran coach to be the next leader of the girls’ basketball program.
The school announced on Monday that Ryan Bowman is the next head coach of the team.
Bowman brings 20 years of coaching experience with him, most recently as a girls assistant at Conner. Prior to that he was the head coach of the Ludlow girls team in 2024-25 and the Boone County girls head coach from 2017-21. He also has stops at Cooper as an assistant for the boys team, the JV boys coach at Conner from 2012-16 and the JV boys coach at Ryle from 2011-12.
“Cooper High School is excited to announce Coach Bowman and reflects the school’s continued commitment to expanding opportunities for female student-athletes” Athletic Director Randy Borchers said. “With Coach Bowman at the helm, the program will continue with its strong foundation which is rooted in excellence, teamwork and pride.”
Bowman is a 2001 graduate of Simon Kenton and holds a Masters degree in Professional Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands, a Masters degree in Special Education from Georgetown College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Physical
Education from Northern Kentucky University.
At Boone County, Bowman led them to a 45-67 record, including a winning season in 2020-21, the Lady Rebels first winning season since 2014-15 in Nell Fookes last season as head coach.
Across his career, the teams he has been a part of have earned district championships, district runner-up finishes, multiple regional appearances, a 9th Region title, and a state runner-up finish in 2017 under Tim Sullivan as an assistant at Cooper.
“His educational background, combined with his extensive coaching experience, allows him to connect with and positively influence student-athletes at all levels,” Borchers said. “Coach Bowman understands the demands of the game and brings a player-focused, development-driven approach to coaching. He leads with core principles emphasizing that his teams will play together, fight together, fail together and respond together. Grounded in strong leadership and effective communication, Bowman is committed to student athletes competing with confidence, maintaining faith in themselves and one another and never giving in to fear while striving for both individual and team success.”
Bowman will inherit a team expected to have back-to-back 9th Region Player of the Year Haylee Noel entering her senior year. They’re expected to return three of their starting five with Brinkli Rankin and Alivia Scott in the fold. Key reserves Leila Allen, Destiny Knox and Riley Benson all played in at least 24 games last season. Addyson Brissey and Lyric Hooper are the lone graduates.
Cooper won four straight region titles under Justin Holthaus from 2021-25 before losing to Highlands in the 9th Region quarterfinals this past season in their lone year under Christian Prohaska, who resigned in March. Cooper finished 20-9 last season and was ranked in the top 10 consistently all season before hitting a late season swoon where they lost six of their last 11, including a 39-point defeat to Ryle in the district championship.