Archie Cooley facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1940 (age 84–85) Sumrall, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | April 18 2024 |
| Alma mater | Jackson State University |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1960 | Jackson State |
| Position(s) | Center, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1964–1970 | Southside HS (MS) |
| 1971–1973 | Alcorn State (DL/LB) |
| 1974–? | Tennessee State (LB) |
| 1980–1986 | Mississippi Valley State |
| 1987–1990 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
| 1993 | Norfolk State |
| 2000–2006 | Paul Quinn |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 83–78–5 (college) |
| Bowls | 0–1 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley (born 1940) was a famous American college football coach. He was known for his exciting and unique offensive strategies. Coach Cooley led football teams at several universities, including Mississippi Valley State University, University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Norfolk State University, and Paul Quinn College. He is especially remembered for coaching two future football legends, Willie Totten and Jerry Rice, at Mississippi Valley State.
Contents
Early Life and Playing Days
Archie Cooley was born in Sumrall, Mississippi, and grew up in Laurel, Mississippi. He went to Oak Park High School. Later, he played college football at Jackson State University under coach John Merritt. Cooley graduated from college in 1962.
Coaching Journey
Coach Cooley started his coaching career at Southside High School in Heidelberg, Mississippi, where he worked for seven years. After that, he became a coach for linebackers and defensive linemen at Alcorn State University from 1971 to 1973. In 1974, he moved to Tennessee State University to coach linebackers.
The "Satellite Express" Offense
Archie Cooley became very successful at Mississippi Valley State University from 1980 to 1986. He created an amazing new way to play offense called the "Satellite Express." This was a no-huddle offense, meaning players didn't stop to talk between plays. It used five wide receivers, which was very unusual at the time. This strategy focused on passing the ball a lot.
His team, the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, made their only Division I-AA playoff appearance in 1984. The 1984 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team broke many records for passing, receiving, and scoring. This was thanks to the incredible teamwork of quarterback Willie Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice. To this day, Coach Cooley holds the record for the most wins as a coach in the Delta Devils' football history. He also taught physical education at the university.
Later Coaching Roles
In 1987, Coach Cooley moved to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He coached there for four years, from 1987 to 1990. During this time, he also served as the athletic director and a professor.
In 1993, Cooley took on the head coach role at Norfolk State University, but he stayed for only one year.
After a break from coaching, Cooley returned to lead the football program at Paul Quinn College in Dallas from 2000 to 2006. He was responsible for building the new football program from scratch. However, the school faced financial problems, and the football program was eventually stopped after the 2006 season.
In 2007, Archie Cooley was honored for his great career by being inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.
Coaching Record Summary
Archie Cooley had a long and impactful coaching career. His overall record as a college head coach was 83 wins, 78 losses, and 5 ties.
