Archie Cooley, an HBCU coaching legend and the man who helped introduce the world to Jerry Rice has reportedly passed away. Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune reports that the iconic head coach at Mississippi Valley State – among other places – has died.
Cooley’s coaching career spanned several decades, during which he made significant contributions to the development of young athletes and the evolution of coaching strategies. He gained widespread recognition for his unique approach to the game, blending traditional techniques with innovative tactics that challenged the status quo.
Born in 1940 in Sumrall, Mississippi, Archie Cooley played at Jackson State in the 1950s and 60s for legendary head coach John Merritt. He then turned to coaching, spending seven years as a high school coach before working for two seasons under Marino Casem at Alcorn State. He would head to Nashville to work for his college coach at Tennessee State before resurfacing at Mississippi Valley State.
Archie Cooley turns Mississippi Valley into HBCU force
Cooley arrived at Mississippi Valley State with a program that needed a lot of work. Future NFL player and HBCU coach Sam Washington was one of his star players early in his tenure before he recruited two young men that would re-write the history books. Cooley landed quarterback Willie Totten and wide receiver Jerry Rice and then went on to patent the “Satellite Express” – an offense that often used as many as five receivers at a time when many teams were still running the Wishbone and I-Formations regularly. It was during this period that he earned the nickname “The Gunslinger” from legendary newspaper reporter Roscoe Nance.
The program went 24-7-1 from 1983 through 1985, by far the most successful stretch in program history. Cooley went 42-27-2 in his seven seasons in Ita Bena, which remains the best record in school history.
Cooley then went to Arkansas-Pine Bluff when it was still an NAIA program. He went 27-13-2, including a 9-1 season in 1990. Cooley spent one season at Norfolk State, going 3-7 with the CIAA program.
The final head coaching job for Archie Cooley came when he helped re-establish the football program at Paul Quinn College. He went 11-31 in seven seasons with the program before it was cut due to financial issues.
Cooley’s final record as a head coach stands at 83-78-5. But his impact on the game was much larger and continues to live on, not only in HBCU football but in the game overall.