« Men’s Soccer 2013

Kevin Cope

School
Michigan State
Position
Defender
Major
Finance
G
2
A
2
PTS
6

Classroom

Cope is a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2011, 2012) and Academic All-Big Ten selection (2010, 2011, 2012) with a 3.75 cumulative GPA. He is a NSCAA Scholar-Athlete and a three-time selection to MSU’s Academic Gala. He’s been a member of the Dean’s list every semester and has been honored as a Athletics Dept “Champion in the Classroom” and SASS Student-Athlete of the Month. A CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee he had a summer 2012 internship at Upstream Investment Group.

Character

Cope is well-respected among his teammates, as he was selected as a captain in each of the last three seasons.  He is charismatic, highly competitive, well-spoken, and an excellent representative of the soccer program, athletics department, and Michigan State University.  He has been quick to volunteer for community outreach activities, as well as help recruit others both on his team and in the athletic department to do so as well.

Community

Cope has been the team’s SAAC representative for two years and participated in a Walk to School program, March is Reading Month at local elementary schools. He helped coordinate the soccer team’s Teams for Toys effort for three years (each MSU team adopts a local needy family each year at the holidays), volunteered at the City Rescue Mission, Race for the Place, Habitat for Humanity, and a local women’s shelter. He participated in the Junior Spartan Picnic, interacting with children at an event that brings youth athletes from the area to interact with varsity athletes and helps at 3-5 free youth clinics in both the fall and spring, as well as volunteers at the MSU Winter Clinics for local youth players.

Competition

Cope was the 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Named a 2010 Second Team All-Big Ten, he helped lead MSU to the NCAA Round of 16. He missed most of 2011 with injury (fractured orbital bone suffered in the 2nd game of the season). He was Second team All-Big Ten, Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Big Ten Tournament Defensive MVP, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, and helped the Spartans to a Big Ten Tournament title and second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2012.