When Mark Cooper collected his 300th career win against La Salle-Peru less than two weeks ago, he rightfully called it “a program milestone.”

However, it’s much more than just that.

It’s a family milestone too, in so many different ways.

Of course, the path to that landmark began for him with the family of his youth: his parents, the late Robert and Donna Cooper, and his older brother, Mike Cooper, the former successful girls basketball coach (career mark of 410-167) and still the athletic director at Ottawa High School.

His parents were responsible for instilling him with a love for the game of basketball and all sports in general, but only after he had learned his responsibilities as a person, the principles on which he and his brother have based their reputations for character, compassion and discipline.

“What I’m about as a person was influenced obviously by my parents,” Mark Cooper said, “having priorities in line – faith, family and education before sports – and treating people the way you want to be treated, basically to be the best possible person you could be. I was very fortunate to have that influence in my life, and I try to live my life in a way that would make them proud.”

He also picked up his passion for basketball from them early. As far back as he can remember, Mark and his brother attended virtually all the athletic events at Mendota High School, where their father was a longtime, well-respected teacher and principal, before making their way to Champaign and later Peoria every March for the IHSA Basketball State Finals.

That provided another family with which to grow up.

“Those were our family activities. Whether Mendota was home or on the road, we were there as a family, and that’s where the love of athletics started for me,” Mark Cooper said. “We grew up in that environment with the coaches at Mendota – football coach Dean Lubbs, baseball coach Randy Weibel, basketball coach Mike Kilmartin. They opened the doors for us, and we got a behind-the-scenes look at how things worked for coaches, and that had a major impact on Mike and I and set the stage for the careers we got into.”

And not long after his stellar athletic career at Mendota, Cooper joined the Ottawa family perhaps coincidently when he played for the 1987-88 IVCC team that placed third at the NJCAA National Tournament under former OHS coaching legend Dean Riley.

Riley, along with his predecessor, Gil Love, and one of his successors, Gary Vancil, are those who “set the footing for what this Ottawa basketball program is all about” and whom Cooper mentions often when speaking to his teams of tradition and responsibility.

With his brother providing a reassuring soundboard for what life throws at him personally and professionally, those attributes have served Cooper well, especially on the court.

In the 18 seasons since his first victory, a 71-41 decision against Chicago Juarez on Nov. 22, 2004, at the Oswego Tip-Off Classic, he has done his best to relay the integrity, duty and appreciation of history he gleaned from his experiences into each and every one of his players, all the while teaming with the OHS staff to teach them the finer points of basketball.

His 100th win came against Sterling on Feb. 11, 2011, at Kingman Gym; his 200th against Oak Forest fittingly at the Dean Riley Shootin’ The Rock Tournament on Nov. 25, 2016, at Kingman; his 300th, a 55-54 win over rival La Salle-Peru on Jan. 21 at home.

And finally, there’s his adult family – his wife, Sally; son, Jonathan; and twins, Gabby and Seth, a junior and freshman, respectively, at OHS this year – which has made each of those victories possible through their understanding, patience and support on the home front.

“Being a coach’s wife and shouldering when your dad’s a coach is a major sacrifice,” Mark Cooper said. “There are a lot of lonely nights when your husband or your dad is not home, going to his games.

“I’ve been very fortunate that my wife and kids have been supportive of what I’ve done. If they hadn’t been on board with it, I couldn’t stay in it as long as I have.

“Wins are not something I got into this profession for. Hopefully, every year you’re doing it for the right reasons, the love of the game and to help the kids represent the school and community. … My family, the players, coaches and community around us, the sport of basketball and Ottawa High School have all been better to me than I ever could be to them.

“I am truly blessed.”