Longtime UNC Sports Psychologist Dr. Dick Coop Passes Away At Age 81

Posted Jan 10, 2022
Richard “Dick” Howell Coop, Ed.D., a faculty member at the UNC School of Education for 30 years, died Dec. 29 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 81. Coop, who led a dual career as a sports psychologist to some of America’s top professional athletes, served at UNC as a professor of educational psychology until retiring in 1999. (UNC.edu)

Related: Campus Connections

The multigenerational experiences of being a Tar Heel
Some parents encourage their children to attend their alma mater, while others watch them find their own path to Chapel Hill. Either way, UNC draws...
Wed Jan 28, 2026

UNC students sled, ski and play in the snow: 'The vibe is joyous out here'
In true North Carolina snow day fashion, the streets of Chapel Hill were alive with groups of people sledding on cardboard slabs, attempting to make...
Tue Jan 27, 2026

The Story Behind That Perfect Final Scene in ESPN’s Stuart Scott ‘30 for 30’
The final scene in ESPN’s 30 for 30 “Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott” is a Top 10 highlight if I’ve ever seen one. And...
Sun Jan 25, 2026

UNC-Chapel Hill announces plans to develop campus extension in Carolina North
UNC is proud to announce the development of a new campus extension in Carolina North, a generational investment in its academic mission, public impact, and...
Wed Jan 21, 2026