About Bob Cope
Lived 1936 – 1997 (aged 60). Bob Cope was an American american football player.
Bob Cope (November 6, 1936 – August 3, 1997) was an American football coach. In a 32-year career, he served as assistant coach at Vanderbilt, SMU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Purdue, Pacific, USC, Baylor, and Kansas State. During his career, he coached 23 nationally ranked defenses and participated in eight bowl games.
A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, he played college football at Carson–Newman College, and was inducted posthumously into the Carson–Newman Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
Cope was an assistant coach at University of the Pacific for Chester Caddas in the early 1970s. His only stint as head coach came at Pacific (1983–1988), where he had a 22–46 record.
Cope was diagnosed with cancer in September 1996. He died at Mercy Health Center in Manhattan, Kansas.
Head coaching record
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bob Cope's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bob Cope?
American football coach (1936-1997)
When was Bob Cope born?
Bob Cope was born on 6 November 1936.
When did Bob Cope die?
Bob Cope died on 3 August 1997 in Manhattan.
What was Bob Cope's occupation?
Bob Cope was an american football player.
What nationality was Bob Cope?
Bob Cope was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bob Cope. https://biography.guide/bob-cope-american-football-player/
MLA: "Bob Cope." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bob-cope-american-football-player/.
Chicago: "Bob Cope." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bob-cope-american-football-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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