Chad Copeland
Personal information
Born (1971-02-23) February 23, 1971 (age 52)
Cookeville, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolBradley Central
(Cleveland, Tennessee)
College
NBA draft1994: undrafted
PositionPoint guard
Career highlights and awards

Chad Copeland (born February 23, 1971) is an American former basketball player known for his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Chattanooga) between 1992 and 1994. He was named the Southern Conference co-Player of the Year as a senior after leading the Mocs to back-to-back SoCon regular season and conference tournament championships as well as back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.

College career

A 5'11" point guard, Copeland grew up in Tennessee and attended Bradley Central High School.[1] In his senior season he averaged 26 points and 10 assists per game in leading the team to a 29–3 record.[1] Copeland pursued basketball in college when he went to Florida State to play for the Seminoles. His time there was not remarkable, and after his sophomore season in 1990–91 he asked to be released from the program, which he was granted.[2] Copeland had only played in 13 games that year, starting one, and averaged fewer than three points per contest.[2] Junior college phenom Sam Cassell had committed to play for Florida State the following season and Copeland's role at point guard looked even more diminished by Cassell's signing.[2]

Copeland had to sit out one season per NCAA by-laws, but after waiting he was able to suit up for the Chattanooga Mocs. In his final two years of college eligibility, Copeland guided Chattanooga to an overall record of 49–14 (30–6 in conference play), two regular season Southern Conference championships, two conference tournament championships, and two NCAA Tournament berths.[3] In 1993–94 he averaged 20.1 points per game, earned First Team All-Conference honors, and was named the co-SoCon Player of the Year as well as the SoCon Tournament MVP.[3][4] His 206 made free throws that season are a school record.[3]

In 1999, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga inducted him into their athletics hall of fame.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "1989–90 Florida State Signees/Newcomers". 1989–90 FSU Basketball Media Guide. Florida State University. 1989. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadtke, Alan (April 11, 1991). "Freshman To Transfer From FSU". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "2012–13 Chattanooga Basketball Media Guide". University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "Honors and Records" (PDF). Southern Conference. 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  5. ^ "Current Hall of Fame Members". University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
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