The lone coach in Cooper’s 18-year football history has resigned.
Randy Borchers made the announcement on Monday morning.
Borchers is taking another position in another district that can’t be disclosed yet, but with the amount of time spent on Longbranch Road in Union, the decision didn’t come easy.
“It’s one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” Borchers said. “I wouldn’t change what I’ve done here for anything, great group of kids and community. I’ve been put in a great situation, got to grow up as a person here, watch my kids grow up out here. So many memories of the school and football field.”
Borchers has guided the Jaguars since the inception of the program in 2008. He’s led them to three state championship games, finishing runner-up each time, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024 in losses to Bowling Green both seasons. The 2012 team that drove all the way to the state title game also lost to Bowling Green.
They’ve won 118 games in the 18 seasons with Borchers, which includes four region championships and four district titles.
“It starts with kids that have been bought in since day one,” Borchers said. “I told the kids and met with them today, no one is bigger than the program and that includes me. Someone taking over will be in great shape and can’t have a successful program without a successful and supportive group of company. That’s why I’ve been able to be here for 18 years.”
They’re coming off their best four-year stretch where they’ve gone 40-13 from 2022-25 with quite a few players going on to play college football.
“Over the past 18 years, Randy didn’t just lead a program — he built it,” the school said in a statement. “From the early days to the successes that followed, he poured countless hours, energy and heart into developing something that students, families and the entire community could be proud of. The foundation he helped create will continue to stand strong for years to come.”
He’s also served as the school’s Athletic Director and will not be returning in that role after the school year as well. Borchers stated he’d like to be involved in the hiring process for the next football coach as well as the next girls basketball coach, but is leaving that decision up to the administration.
“I want to finish what I started,” Borchers said. “I’m still in the AD role until the end of school year. With footprints in this school, I want to leave it in good hands. We’ll work hard to get the right people in here and let it be in good shape before I leave.”