It wasn’t the way that Bloomsburg University pitcher Chad Cooperman or his classmates wanted to go out. Following a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship in 2019, they didn’t want their legacy to be cut short after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season prematurely.

The Huskies started the year hot out of the gates in 2020. But then the season stopped soon after it had started. The NCAA ended up granting spring seniors another year of eligibility, and Cooperman wasted little time deciding what he wanted to do.

“Coming back to Bloomsburg was an easy decision,” said Cooperman. “I had such a good experience the first four years and we have a great group that decided to come back with me. We had such a strong start in 2020 we all felt that we had some unfinished business come 2021.

“In 2020 we started out 9-1 and had a promising season ahead. It was obviously tough to have our season end before conference play even started, but given the circumstances, we were all grateful to be able to come back. Moving forward, I know our team is excited to defend our title come postseason.”

Cooperman graduated in 2020 with a degree in supply chain management. He is now a candidate for a Master’s in Business Administration and plans to graduate in May. Some seniors last year were looking to begin their lives in the work force and finish playing athletics. Cooperman had the opportunity to do just that, as PPL Corporation offered him a position after interning last summer. But the Allentown native knew he wanted one last run, and PPL understood, and will honor his position still.

“PPL has been great over the last few years to me,” Cooperman said. “I enjoyed a positive internship with them following my junior year and was looking forward to starting full time after graduation. When the news around COVID hit, I reached out and they were beyond understanding. PPL allowed me to come back as an intern this past summer and are holding my position until this upcoming summer, which I am very fortunate for.”

Cooperman, a Salisbury High School graduate, showed how much he cared about coming back to play right away. In his first start this season on March 12, at Shepherd University, the graduate student struck out eight Rams batters and became the Huskies all-time leader in career strikeouts. He’s 3-0 this season and has fanned 28 batters while walking 13.

The 2019 First Team All PSAC selection has 193 career strikeouts with a .55 WHIP. He’s also batted .300 with one home run and 46 RBIs in his career.

“Breaking the record for career strikeouts at Bloomsburg was a true blessing,” said Cooperman, whose older brothers Casey (Bloomsburg) and Tyler (DeSales) both played college baseball. “I came in as a recruited walk-on and really worked to achieve a lot of the success that I have had over the years at Bloomsburg. I am grateful for a lot of people who have pushed me over the years to make this happen.”

So, what motivates him every start? What does he look to accomplish each time he takes the mound?

“I love taking the mound every start,” Cooperman said. “I feel so confident and truly believe in myself more on the mound than anywhere else. It’s such as satisfying feeling taking the mound and I love every opportunity that I have to try and help my team win a game.

“It feels great to take the field again and something that I will never again take for granted. Moving forward, I am excited to see how far our team can go come postseason.”

Cooperman was used to winning, coming from a Falcons program that won multiple Colonial League and District 11 titles in his time there both on the diamond and on the basketball court. That helped him transition to the collegiate level.

“I was very fortunate for my experiences with athletics at Salisbury,” said Cooperman. “Coach [Mike] Pochron and Coach [Jason] Weaver were two of the best head coaches a high school athlete could ask for, not to mention the incredible assistants and volunteers that had so much impact as well. I enjoyed every minute on the court and on the field at Salisbury and am forever in debt to those who helped make it happen.”