Education
University of Detroit Mercy.
basketball coach basketball player
University of Detroit Mercy.
At 6 feet 9 inches (206 m) and 240 pounds (110 kg), he played the power forward position. Kopicki played basketball at Fitzgerald High School in Warren, Michigan, his hometown. During his career at the University of Detroit, Kopicki tallied 1,410 points and 771 rebounds.
Kopicki was drafted in the third round of the 1982 National Basketball Association Draft (56th pick overall) by the Atlanta Hawks.
However, he was waived by the Hawks on October 19. He signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers three days later, but was again waived on October 27 before the start of the 1982-1983 season.
After a season with the Wisconsin Flyers of the College of Business Administration, he signed with the Washington Bullets on March 9, 1983 and finally played in the National Basketball Association. Kopicki played with the Bullets for the remainder of the 1982-1983 and all of the 1983-1984 seasons, averaging 3.8 points per game off the bench, but did not make the final roster for the 1984-1985 season. He then started negotiations with the Kansas City Kings, but was convinced by the Denver Nuggets to sign on October 31, 1984, just days into the 1984-1985 season.
Kopicki replaced Russell Cross, who had a weak left knee, on the Nuggets roster.
His playing time increased when Bill Hanzlik suffered an injury. After the season he then decided to play in Europe, where he spent the rest of his career on teams in Italy and Spain. In Europe he was a seven-time All-Star.
Kopicki is now the head coach of the boys" basketball team at his high school alma mater, Fitzgerald.
Kopicki"s number 34 has since been retired by his high school. They have raised three children, Jessica, Joseph, and Matthew.
Kopicki is of Polish descent.