Cooper Kupp’s high school coach in Yakima knew he ‘had a chance to do something special’
Feb 15, 2022, 10:28 AM | Updated: 10:33 am
Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, California. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
A.C. Davis High School in Yakima, Washington, is celebrating one of its most famous graduates this week: Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp.
Watch: Justin Barnes of 710 ESPN Seattle surprised with Super Bowl tickets
Jay Dumas — who is now the head football coach at Davis High School — coached Kupp in high school, from his freshman year in 2009 through his senior year in 2012. At the time, Dumas was the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
He knew he had a special player in Kupp well before the Eastern Washington native made it to the NFL.
“He was certainly one of the most driven kids that I’ve ever coached, if not the most driven — he always had a purpose in terms of his desire to be great,” Dumas told KIRO Newsradio.
“He was always the first one in, last one out of the weight room. He was always the first one watching film, last one watching film,” he added. “He would walk around school with the vertical jump platform shoes and ankle weights. You just knew when you saw the little wiry 135-pound frame that he had a chance to do something special.”
Dumas says he does still keep in touch with Kupp, and he was able to connect with him to wish him luck before the big game and let him know his hometown was rooting for him.
“He hasn’t forgotten where he comes from and the people that are important to him, so he’ll certainly make time for us,” he said.
Dumas says he’s so happy for Kupp and all that he has achieved.
“I know where he’s come from, I know how hard he’s worked, and I know how good of a person he is,” he said. “I think that’s what is going to be special about him as he’s on this national stage.”
After graduating high school, Kupp played for Eastern Washington University in Cheney. The Los Angeles Rams selected Kupp in the third round (69th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Kupp caught two touchdowns for the Rams in the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, including the game winning grab late in the 4th quarter.
KIRO Newsradio’s Aaron Granillo contributed to this story.
