He was the son of Maria (née Zasa) and Agostino Coppola, who came to the United States from Bernalda, Basilicata.

After their divorce, he wed Almarinda Drago in 1950, also a ballet dancer, with whom he had two children, Lucia and Bruno Coppola.

[4] He debuted with the New York City Opera in 1965, conducting the world premiere of Jack Beeson's Lizzie Borden, and led performances of Carmen (with Beverly Wolff, Richard Cassilly and Norman Treigle), La traviata, Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Madama Butterfly during the same year.

[citation needed] At the Seattle Opera in 1970, Coppola led the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men.

[citation needed] Coppola was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Puccini Foundation and recognized by the Italian government as Cavaliere, Gran Ufficiale.