Former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football coach Archie Cooley Jr. died Thursday, his family announced.
Cooley, 84, coached the Golden Lions from 1987-90 when UAPB played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and had not yet joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He also served as athletic director.
The Sumrall, Miss., native played football at Jackson State before beginning his coaching career at Southside High School in Heidelberg, Miss. Cooley, nicknamed “Gunslinger” for his trademark passing offense, went on to coach at Alcorn State, Tennessee State and Mississippi Valley State before coming to Pine Bluff.
At MVSU, his first head coaching stop, he coached players such as Jerry Rice and Willie Totten while leading the Delta Devils to their first Division I-AA/Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance.
Cooley’s time at UAPB ended when the NAIA handed the Golden Lions the “death penalty,” barring the school from competition for two years due to numerous player eligibility and other infractions.
He went on to coach one season at Norfolk State in 1993. After a long break, he coached Paul Quinn College in Dallas from 2000-06 before retiring.
Cooley was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2007.