The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is again elated to document the outstanding legacy of head football coaches in an effort to tell the stories of not only the legends of college football, but the stories of tremendous men of honor and integrity as well – this week shining the spotlight on a Mississippi Valley State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Norfolk State and Paul Quinn legend.
As college football celebrates its 150th year, the MEAC is proud to document and showcase some of these football coaching legends. Following a retrospective on Doug Porter, the MEAC turns its attention this week to Archie “The Gunslinger” Cooley, whose stellar head coaching career spans Mississippi Valley State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Norfolk State and Paul Quinn College, where he compiled an overall record of 83-78-5.
HBCUs around the country are known for producing some of the best talent to come through the college ranks and into the National Football League (NFL). What many may not know is the fact that these talented student-athletes were led by legendary coaches who not only changed their lives, but they have helped to change the landscape of college football.
In the coming weeks, the MEAC will also shine the spotlight on Willard Bailey (Virginia Union, Norfolk State, Saint Paul’s College, Virginia-Lynchburg), Hamp Smith (Albany State), Jake Gaither (Florida A&M) and Eddie Robinson (Grambling State). and Jake Gaither (Florida A&M). These video trailers, and the footage taken over the past year, will lead into 30- to 45-minute documentaries on each legendary coach.
To watch Coach Cooley’s video, click here.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) begins its 49th year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2019-20 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.