Cooper has signed to be the backs coach and assistant attack coach for Stade Francais, the side that won the Top 14 competition last year.
Cooper said the offer came out of the blue only a few days ago and though he had talked to the Highlanders, the timing did not match. He had to make a decision and the French offer was more concrete.
He chose to go with the French club offer and did not have any reservations about moving to the northern hemisphere.
"I'm really positive about the Highlanders and their future. They are extremely well led, they've got a good board, a good administration team, very well coached and have some outstanding players,'' he said.
"But I had a short window to make the decision on whether to go to Europe. From the Highlanders' point of view, I've had some discussions with them. But Europe excites me. It would have been nice to have had that opportunity with the Highlanders.''
The Highlanders were still working through a process to appoint a coach to take over from Jamie Joseph. They were talking to various people but there was no obvious candidate to fill the shoes of Joseph.
Cooper said he did not second-guess his decision and had no doubt he was making the right move.
"I'm that sort of person who, once they make a decision, then that is the right decision for me.''
Cooper said Europe was a place he had always loved and he was really looking forward to getting to Paris and starting coaching again.
Cooper coached the Highlanders from 2004-07 and then went to Japan and coached the NEC side for seven years.
He returned to Dunedin last year.
Cooper said the offer from Stade Francais came about quickly, but they often did in the professional coaching ranks.
He has signed a two-year deal and views it as a significant challenge.
"It would have been nice to have been involved with the Highlanders but this is a significant appointment to what is a big, big club. You are talking one of the heavyweight clubs of the world.
"Once I get over there, I want to do well and work really hard.''
Stade Francais has struggled this year with injuries and sits just one place above the relegation zone with three games left in the regular season. It is in no danger of being relegated.
The side has international players such as former Wallabies halfback Will Genia and Springbok first five-eighth Morne Steyn.
Cooper is the latest coach to fall out of the reckoning for the job to replace Joseph. John Plumtree, Robbie Deans and assistant coach Tony Brown have all ruled themselves out of the reckoning.
Taranaki coach Colin Cooper and London Irish coach Tom Coventry have been mentioned as possible candidates.
