The John Cooper School's New Athletic Director BJ Feuerhelm Takes The Helm Of A Flourishing Athletic Program

THE WOODLANDS – Athletics are an important part of many high schoolers' lives, giving them experiences and friendships that shape who they will become. High school sports teach students teamwork, responsibility, and time management, with the last being especially important for academic success. Doing well in the classroom often leads to greater success on the field, which is why “student” comes first in the term student-athlete.

The John Cooper School prides itself on this, as it not only helps students find that balance but also builds on it, molding them into men and women who will be successful even after their athletic careers end. The John Cooper School’s athletic program plays a pivotal role in this process, and new Athletic Director BJ Feuerhelm understands that better than anyone. BJ has been part of John Cooper sports for over a decade, seeing firsthand how successful this program has been for students. He now steps into the AD position ready to continue that success. We sat down with BJ to talk about what it takes to be a new Athletic Director and what he sees for the future of The John Cooper School athletics under his leadership.

What Makes The John Cooper School Special to BJ Feuerhelm

We’ve talked about what makes The John Cooper School athletics special before (see here), and for BJ Feuerhelm, the values this school prides itself on are the reason he loves what he does. BJ’s start at The John Cooper School came with girls' basketball, taking over as the head coach in the 2015-2016 season. He’s had a front-row seat to The John Cooper School's exceptional growth over the last decade, making him a natural fit for the Athletic Director role. Feuerhelm remarked that this “was a big change” for him, as this will be his 1^st year away from basketball, but he’s excited for all the opportunities this new role brings him and ready to take the reins.

For BJ, The John Cooper School has been a key part of his life, a place where he truly feels at home. “This position is my mountaintop,” BJ told us. “I get to come in every day and be surrounded by people who love being here.” Feuerhelm loves how The John Cooper School focuses on its students, seamlessly integrating athletics with the classroom from kindergarten through senior year. He also praised the school’s communication, noting that teachers, coaches, and administrators work together to ensure students are on the right path. Feuerhelm values how a teacher can easily inform a coach that a student needs to skip some practice for tutoring, and the coach will make sure that player is in the classroom every day, regardless of any missed practice time.

Lastly, BJ believes The John Cooper School is a special place because it celebrates everyone. He told us how much he looks forward to signing day, when he will get to see where these students take the next step in their athletic and academic careers. And it’s not just the big sports that get celebrated either, as he remarked that they celebrate students who participate in areas many wouldn’t think about, such as equestrian, fencing, and rowing. BJ loves the fact that these students get just as much praise as the bigger school sports, and that is something that makes The John Cooper School so special to him.

Goals and Growth For The Future

As he settles into his new role, BJ Feuerhelm is approaching his first year with humility rather than haste. He described this year as a “watch and learn” year, taking everything in as the year goes on and continuing the great path his predecessors have set for The John Cooper School. But don’t take this as him resting on his laurels. Feuerhelm never wants this program or its staff to become stagnant, saying, “I’ll always tell them not to coach the same way you did last year,” establishing a goal to improve each year. Above all, BJ always wants to push the idea of “full child growth,” as it’s what's made The John Cooper School stand out over all these years.

Feuerhelm told us he wants to be “the leader of the leaders,” meaning he wants to set an example for the leaders under his watch and be the leader they can come to for guidance. Through that example, Feuerhelm hopes to guide his staff toward continuing The John Cooper School’s exceptional growth and upholding the values that make this place special for so many. BJ told us that, as a former head coach, he knows how much a strong support system can do for The John Cooper School, and he plans to always be the primary pillar in that.

The John Cooper School has experienced significant growth over the last few years, and BJ has fully embraced it, noting that he wants to sustain that growth throughout his tenure. With the athletic program moving from 3A to 4A in 2024, BJ said he wants to ensure every coach and player has what they need to succeed in this relatively new environment. He wants to make sure they can keep up at this competitive level and have the resources to do so, without sacrificing “the Cooper way” during all this growth. Valuing what makes The John Cooper School special and what they are about is a top priority for BJ in this role, and he aims to continue their exceptional growth through this new chapter.

With all that growth, more athletes are moving on to the next level. From D1 to D3, students are taking the next step at excellent institutions across the country, thanks to the opportunities they receive at The John Cooper School. BJ told us this growth is something he takes great pride in, noting how much these students put into their work to reach the next level and how The John Cooper School prepares them for either path. Being a valuable student alongside a great athlete is a trait these universities look for, and BJ says this comes from The John Cooper School’s strong approach to student growth. Feuerhelm is looking forward to all the commitments he will see during his time as Athletic Director, and he hopes to lead The John Cooper School’s athletic program toward further positive growth.

Putting It All Together

Stepping into such a big role can be daunting, but BJ Feuerhelm is ready to take the reins as the Athletic Director of The John Cooper School. He understands what makes this place so special to many, and he'll keep those values close to his heart as he takes the helm of this program. BJ told us he’s incredibly excited for this new chapter and looks forward to continuing the growth of both The John Cooper School and its students. From our brief sit-down with him, we could tell he is ready for this role, and we are excited to see how this program does under his leadership. We are very appreciative of BJ taking the time to talk with us about this new chapter in The John Cooper School’s history, and we wish him the best of luck, knowing he will do an excellent job as the Athletic Director.