DJ Cupertino

DJ “Coop” Cupertino is as a much a coach as he is an inspiration to his players on what can be accomplished in high school football when a passion for the game meets plenty of hard work.

Cupertino played for the Wauwatosa East Red Raiders as a wide receiver, defensive back, punter and a long snapper from 2004-07. As a wide receiver in his senior year, he was awarded All-Area for the season, and remains the best wide receiver in Red Raider history.

After high school, he attended Wisconsin Lutheran College from 2010-12 where he played for the school’s basketball team.

Much like head coach and fellow Tosa East alum Jake Wolter, DJ began his coaching career at his high school alma mater as an assistant for the Red Raiders freshmen team from 2011-12. In 2013, he joined the Blue Dukes varsity coaching staff as a wide receiver coach, and is also co-special teams coordinator.

As a former star wide receiver, one might expect Cupertino’s coaching philosophy to have the words of an NFL great running through it. Instead, “Coop” finds direction and inspiration from legendary Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight.

“The key is not the will to win. Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.”