Archie Cooley, the innovative Black college football coach whose offense helped Jerry Rice become a star at Mississippi Valley State, has died, his family announced through the school Thursday. He was 84.
“The MVSU Family sends our condolences to the Cooley Family,” the school said in a social media post, but did not share details about Cooley’s death.
Nicknamed “Gunslinger” for his passion for the passing game, Cooley spent 19 seasons as a head coach at four HBCUs and went 83-78-5.
The Mississippi native played both ways at Jackson State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the early 1960s and started his coaching career as a defensive assistant.
He became a head coach for the first time in the SWAC at Mississippi Valley State in 1980. Cooley’s five-wide receiver, no-huddle offense helped revolutionize the passing game at a time when many top programs were still using run-heavy attacks.
The Dallas Stars have a big age gap with players who have come together for No. 1 seed in the West
Women Pucksters Rising the Ranks
China's Chen, Wang Lift Women's Doubles Trophy at Durban Table Tennis Worlds
Possible TikTok ban revived as part of House foreign aid package
China's Teenager Zheng Dominates Local Favorite to Reach Last 16 at French Open
Enjoying Life near Beijing Central Axis
China's Teenager Zheng Dominates Local Favorite to Reach Last 16 at French Open
The Titans go into the NFL draft flexible at No. 7 with lots of needs to fill
China Grabs Two Golds at Women's Boxing World Championships
Packers could still look to upgrade secondary in NFL draft even after adding Xavier McKinney
Hard Work, Many Revisions Made Paralympic Mascot