Cooley moved to Tennessee State University in 1974 as a linebacker coach. From 1971 to 1973 he was a linebacker and defensive line coach at Alcorn State University.

Cooley graduated in 1962.Ĭooley began his coaching career at Southside High School in Heidelberg, Mississippi, where he worked for seven years. He played college football at Jackson State University under John Merritt.

At Mississippi Valley State, Cooley coached the tandem of Willie Totten and Jerry Rice, future College Football Hall of Fame quarterback and wide receiver, respectively.Ĭooley was born and Sumrall, Mississippi and raised in Laurel, Mississippi, where he attended Oak Park High School. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi Valley State University from 1980 to 1986, University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff from 1987 to 1991, Norfolk State University in 1993, and Paul Quinn College from 2000 to 2006. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.

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