David Kopp joined the Moccasins in the Fall of 2016 following a one-year undergraduate assistant coach position at his alma mater, Clemson University. In his one season on the coaching staff, the Tigers won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship while finishing the regular season ranked #7 in the country. Following the college season, Kopp served as the pitching coach of the Strasburg Express, champions of the Valley Baseball League. The Express were voted the #8 best summer collegiate baseball team in the nation.
Kopp played at Clemson from 2005 to 2007 under head coach Jack Leggett, who ranks 20th in wins on the all-time coaches list for the NCAA Division I. He pitched for three Tigers teams that advanced to consecutive super regionals, including the 2006 team that competed in the College World Series as the top-ranked team. Kopp picked up the championship-clinching wins in both the Clemson Regional and Clemson Super Regional Tournaments that season.
Overall, Kopp posted a 16-8 record and a 4.18 ERA in his 288.1 career innings pitched over 60 appearances, including 32 starts. Following his junior season, he had emerged as one of Baseball America's top right-handed pitchers in the country and was a second-round pick (71st pick overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2007 draft.
Kopp continued his dominance in professional baseball where he pitched parts of eight seasons in the Cardinals and Detroit Tigers organizations. He also played parts of two years in the Roberto Clemente Puerto Rican League and Mexican Winter Ball league and one year in the Atlantic League with the Long Island Ducks. In 2009, Kopp was a Florida State League (Advanced A) All-Star and in 2010, was awarded pitcher of the year in Double-A playing in the Texas League while earning a spot on the St Louis Cardinals' 40-man roster after the 2010 season. He reached AAA status with the Cardinals organization and finished his professional career with a 4.59 ERA in 435.2 innings pitched.
A native of Margate, Florida, Kopp attended Coral Springs High School from 2000-2004 where he was twice named to the Class 6A All State Team. He played his junior and senior years with the Florida Pokers under Mike Roberts where he was regarded as one of the best high school RHP's in the country. After his junior year, Kopp would go on to attend Clemson University after receiving interest from University of Florida, Florida State, Miami, Auburn, Louisiana State, and Arizona State.
Kopp is also a two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, and one-time member of the Presidents List at Clemson University and has his degree in Sports Recreation & Tourism Management. His parents, Paul and Barbara Kopp currently reside in Coconut Creek, FL.
