The Student Council is honored to announce that “The Voice of the Pretzel Dome,” Greg Cooper, will serve as this year's Homecoming Parade Marshal.
Greg Cooper has been serving as our public address announcer for 24 years calling basketball and volleyball games in the Pretzel Dome. When asked how he got involved announcing at New Berlin, Greg, better known as “Coop,” answered, “I was on patrol and stopped at the Pretzel Dome. Thought I would offer my services to make a fun atmosphere for the fans. Asked the coach at the time…the rest is history.” After that, Coop has called 431 games—and counting—at the Pretzel Dome. When asked about some of his favorite or greatest memories during those games, Coop replied, “There are too many to remember them all.” He went on to add, “In 2022, winning a thrilling championship game to win the Gene Bergschneider Turkey Tournament was awesome with the crowd storming the court!” When asked what keeps him returning to the Pretzel Dome, Coop had a lot to say; “I know I’ve created a unique experience for the fans, students, and players. Coaches have told me it is very rare to see and experience a thunderous atmosphere in other gyms…Above all, I want to encourage the students to know life can be just as thrilling as the atmosphere I love creating during games and to never give up hope in their life ahead after New Berlin!”
Coop grew up in Springfield, IL, attending high school at Southeast. After attending college in Tennessee, he returned home for a career in social services. Coop is a retired emergency dispatcher and retired part time worker at various police departments all over central Illinois including 17 part-time years in New Berlin. He has been in the radio business for 42 years at Neuhoff Radio in Springfield as well as the Powerlight Christian Radio Show on 99.7 The Mix on Sunday nights.
Coop has been described as “The Voice of the Pretzel Dome,” and we are very grateful for all 24 years and 431 games that he has been a part of. Thank you, Coop, for all the memories you have made for many members of the students and staff. We are honored to have you as our 2024 Parade Marshal.
Written by Dylan Walton
