Archie Cooley

Archie Lee Cooley Jr. (March 18, 1939 – April 18, 2024) was an American college football coach. 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. 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.

Early life Cooley was born on March 18, 1939 in Sumrall, Mississippi He played college football at Jackson State University under John Merritt. Cooley graduated in 1962, and married Georgia Ester Reed on December 28 of that year. The couple had two children, Dwight and Lisa.

Coaching career Cooley began his coaching career at Southside High School in Heidelberg, Mississippi, where he worked for seven years. From 1971 to 1973 he was a linebacker and defensive line coach at Alcorn State University. Cooley moved to Tennessee State University in 1974 as a linebacker coach. To this day, Cooley is the winningest coach in the history of the Delta Devil football program. He also served as an associate professor of physical education at Mississippi Valley State.

In 1987 Cooley moved on to University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, which was a NAIA member at the time. He coached there for four years, from 1987 to 1990, and served as athletic director and associate professor. He resigned from his position after the NAIA found 41 player ineligibility violations under his tenure, with the NAIA giving the program the "death penalty."

Cooley worked at Southern as an offensive coordinator in 1992 before being hired as head coach at Norfolk State University in 1992, where he stayed for only one year before being pressured to resign.

Cooley later worked as an offensive coordinator at Texas Southern and Carter-Riverside High School before becoming the head coach at Paul Quinn College in Dallas. Paul Quinn was an NAIA member school which was then establishing a new football program, and Cooley was responsible for starting the program from the ground up. He served as head coach from 2000 to 2006 when the administration decided to drop the football program after the 2006 season due to financial difficulties.

In 2007, Cooley was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

Death Cooley died in Fort Worth, Texas on April 18, 2024.

Head coaching record College