Biography:

Season number four at the University of Dayton marks over a decade's worth of Track and Field coaching experience for Assistant Tom Cope.

Cope joined the Flyer staff in the 2006-07 school year after an eight-year stint of indoor and outdoor coaching at both public and parochial high schools in New Jersey.

While in the Garden State, he trained numerous State Champion hurdlers, including first, second and third place finishers in the State Championship meet in the 100 meter hurdles.

During the 2008-09 season, Cope helped coach senior Andrea Cornell to a sixth place finish in the 55 meter hurdles and an eighth place finish in the 100 meter hurdles at the Atlantic 10 Championships, both of which were personal bests in her final season as a Flyer.

In addition, Cope assisted in training the high jumpers and the multi-event athletes in the hurdles and high jump. As a result of his efforts Amy Kremer (5-08.75, school record) and Lauryn Fougerousse (5-07.00) placed first and fourth, respectively, in the high jump at the A-10 Indoor Championships.

A graduate of Belmont High School in Dayton, Ohio, he continued his education at McPherson College (McPherson, Kansas), earning a bachelors degree. Cope is also a certified New Jersey Police Instructor.

It is only fitting that he finds himself back in the city of Dayton, as it is here that his running career began. Cope was the Dayton Relays Hurdler Champion and the city of Dayton's runner-up in 110 meter hurdles. He was a record-holder at Belmont High in both hurdle events. As a collegiate athlete, Cope tops the charts in the High Jump.