Jeff Copp enters his third season at Northwestern in 2026 and his first as a senior defensive assistant/nickels coach. Copp previously served as a defensive analyst under head coach David Braun.
Redshirt junior Braden Turner headlined the nickel corner room in 2025. Turner started 12 games and posted 50 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception and three pass breakups. He set career highs in tackles, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defended this season and was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. He also became the first Big Ten player to record at least three tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup (11/15) since the 2022 season.
In 2025, the NU defense allowed 19.8 points per game as a team, ranking sixth in the Big Ten and 23rd in FBS. It marked the best scoring defense by a Northwestern team since 2020, and the best in a full season since 2015. Northwestern’s defense ranked fourth in the Big Ten, producing 20 total takeaways during the season (11 fumble recoveries, 9 interceptions), while the team’s 11 fumble recoveries also led the Big Ten and ranked 11th in the nation.
Copp came to Northwestern in August 2024 from Eastern Washington University where he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2022 after two years on staff coaching the defensive tackles, beginning with the abbreviated 2020-21 spring season.
During his tenure at Eastern Washington, Copp has coached two Eagle defensive linemen to four All-Big Sky honors during his tenure in Mitchell Johnson (First Team in 2020-21, Third Team in ’22) and Joshua Jerome (Honorable Mention in 2020-21, Third Team in ’22). Following the 2021 season, Jerome was named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Defensive Team, and was named to the Phil Steele All-Big Sky fourth team along with Johnson. Also garnering post season honors under Copp were defensive back Marlon Jones JR (Third Team in ’22, First Team in ’23).
During his tenure, Copp and the Eagles have garnered an overall record of 18-13 with a 13-9 mark in conference play, making two NCAA FCS Playoff appearances. In 31 games, Eastern has held 12 of its opponents to 23 points or less, including a 19-9 win over Northern Iowa in the 2021 FCS Playoffs first round (3 FGs).
In 2019, the Panther defense was a stout group in the secondary as FIU ranked 17th overall in the nation for passing yards allowed per game (195.0). FIU also defended well in the pass efficiency category (117.64), ranking 23rd in the country. The ball hawking Panthers picked off 12 passes in 2019, which placed FIU 31st overall in the country and aided in Stantley Thomas-Oliver III being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Copp took over the linebackers in addition to his Defensive Coordinator duties in 2019. The linebacker group was led by Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, Sage Lewis. Despite being hampered by injuries during the year, Lewis led the team in tackles (93) and was followed closely behind by fellow linebacker Jamal Gates (85) who ranked second the team. The linebacker group was responsible for nine turnovers as well, which helped the Panthers rank in the top half of the conference for forced turnovers.
Copp coached a ball-hungry group in 2018 that ranked second in C-USA and 11th nationally for total interceptions (17). Additionally, the 194.1 passing yards per game in 2018 ranked as 30th overall in the country. Copp’s starting safeties, Dorian Hall and Olin Cushion III, ranked third and fifth on the team for tackles last season after collecting 65 and 46 respectively. Hall’s successful season landed him C-USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2018.
The 2017 campaign saw Copp's defensive backs help the Panther defense hold opponents to 10 points or less four times. Panthers defenders recovered 11 fumbles to lead C-USA and rank 19th nationally. Copp's defensive backs were part of a defense that was hard to finish drives against as the Panthers placed fifth in C-USA in red zone defense, but 30th overall. Under Copp's leadership cornerback Brad Muhammad earned second team All-CUSA honors.
Prior to FIU Copp spent one season (2016) at Northern Arizona as the Lumberjacks’ special teams coordinator. Prior to his stint at NAU, Copp coached at UC Davis for seven seasons. Copp joined the UC Davis football program as a safeties coach in 2009, before coaching the Aggies' defensive backfield and special teams from 2011-12. Copp coached the linebackers for three seasons from 2013-15.
UC Davis led all NCAA Div. I (FCS) teams in net punting (41.4 avg.) and kickoff returns (26.4 avg.) in 2012. Additionally, senior punter Colton Schmidt was named All-Big Sky Conference first team after averaging 44.5 yards per attempt, sixth-best in the FCS, and in 2015 began his second year as the starting punter for the Buffalo Bills.
His linebackers also excelled. Linebacker Steven Pitts earned All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades in 2013 after posting 74 tackles, a team-high 11.5 TFLs and four sacks for 35 yards in losses. He repeated All-Big honors in 2014.
Prior to joining the Aggies, Copp spent the previous four seasons as a safeties and special teams coach at Utah State under former FIU Defensive Coordinator Brent Guy. Prior to his tenure in Logan, Copp served as a defensive ends coach at Idaho State in 2004 and as a graduate assistant at Arizona State from 2001 to 2003.
Copp, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, played collegiately at Boise State, where he was named All-Big West as a defensive end. Copp also helped the Broncos to a pair of Humanitarian Bowl wins, over Louisville in 1999 and UTEP in 2000. Copp earned his Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences from Boise State in 2001 then added a Master's Degree in Higher Education at ASU in 2003.
Redshirt junior Braden Turner headlined the nickel corner room in 2025. Turner started 12 games and posted 50 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception and three pass breakups. He set career highs in tackles, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defended this season and was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. He also became the first Big Ten player to record at least three tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup (11/15) since the 2022 season.
In 2025, the NU defense allowed 19.8 points per game as a team, ranking sixth in the Big Ten and 23rd in FBS. It marked the best scoring defense by a Northwestern team since 2020, and the best in a full season since 2015. Northwestern’s defense ranked fourth in the Big Ten, producing 20 total takeaways during the season (11 fumble recoveries, 9 interceptions), while the team’s 11 fumble recoveries also led the Big Ten and ranked 11th in the nation.
Copp came to Northwestern in August 2024 from Eastern Washington University where he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2022 after two years on staff coaching the defensive tackles, beginning with the abbreviated 2020-21 spring season.
During his tenure at Eastern Washington, Copp has coached two Eagle defensive linemen to four All-Big Sky honors during his tenure in Mitchell Johnson (First Team in 2020-21, Third Team in ’22) and Joshua Jerome (Honorable Mention in 2020-21, Third Team in ’22). Following the 2021 season, Jerome was named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Defensive Team, and was named to the Phil Steele All-Big Sky fourth team along with Johnson. Also garnering post season honors under Copp were defensive back Marlon Jones JR (Third Team in ’22, First Team in ’23).
During his tenure, Copp and the Eagles have garnered an overall record of 18-13 with a 13-9 mark in conference play, making two NCAA FCS Playoff appearances. In 31 games, Eastern has held 12 of its opponents to 23 points or less, including a 19-9 win over Northern Iowa in the 2021 FCS Playoffs first round (3 FGs).
In 2019, the Panther defense was a stout group in the secondary as FIU ranked 17th overall in the nation for passing yards allowed per game (195.0). FIU also defended well in the pass efficiency category (117.64), ranking 23rd in the country. The ball hawking Panthers picked off 12 passes in 2019, which placed FIU 31st overall in the country and aided in Stantley Thomas-Oliver III being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Copp took over the linebackers in addition to his Defensive Coordinator duties in 2019. The linebacker group was led by Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, Sage Lewis. Despite being hampered by injuries during the year, Lewis led the team in tackles (93) and was followed closely behind by fellow linebacker Jamal Gates (85) who ranked second the team. The linebacker group was responsible for nine turnovers as well, which helped the Panthers rank in the top half of the conference for forced turnovers.
Copp coached a ball-hungry group in 2018 that ranked second in C-USA and 11th nationally for total interceptions (17). Additionally, the 194.1 passing yards per game in 2018 ranked as 30th overall in the country. Copp’s starting safeties, Dorian Hall and Olin Cushion III, ranked third and fifth on the team for tackles last season after collecting 65 and 46 respectively. Hall’s successful season landed him C-USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2018.
The 2017 campaign saw Copp's defensive backs help the Panther defense hold opponents to 10 points or less four times. Panthers defenders recovered 11 fumbles to lead C-USA and rank 19th nationally. Copp's defensive backs were part of a defense that was hard to finish drives against as the Panthers placed fifth in C-USA in red zone defense, but 30th overall. Under Copp's leadership cornerback Brad Muhammad earned second team All-CUSA honors.
Prior to FIU Copp spent one season (2016) at Northern Arizona as the Lumberjacks’ special teams coordinator. Prior to his stint at NAU, Copp coached at UC Davis for seven seasons. Copp joined the UC Davis football program as a safeties coach in 2009, before coaching the Aggies' defensive backfield and special teams from 2011-12. Copp coached the linebackers for three seasons from 2013-15.
UC Davis led all NCAA Div. I (FCS) teams in net punting (41.4 avg.) and kickoff returns (26.4 avg.) in 2012. Additionally, senior punter Colton Schmidt was named All-Big Sky Conference first team after averaging 44.5 yards per attempt, sixth-best in the FCS, and in 2015 began his second year as the starting punter for the Buffalo Bills.
His linebackers also excelled. Linebacker Steven Pitts earned All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades in 2013 after posting 74 tackles, a team-high 11.5 TFLs and four sacks for 35 yards in losses. He repeated All-Big honors in 2014.
Prior to joining the Aggies, Copp spent the previous four seasons as a safeties and special teams coach at Utah State under former FIU Defensive Coordinator Brent Guy. Prior to his tenure in Logan, Copp served as a defensive ends coach at Idaho State in 2004 and as a graduate assistant at Arizona State from 2001 to 2003.
Copp, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, played collegiately at Boise State, where he was named All-Big West as a defensive end. Copp also helped the Broncos to a pair of Humanitarian Bowl wins, over Louisville in 1999 and UTEP in 2000. Copp earned his Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences from Boise State in 2001 then added a Master's Degree in Higher Education at ASU in 2003.