SIM COOLEY— Coach Sim Cooley was a championship football coach at Greenwood, Waynesboro, Kosciusko, and Jones Junior College. Coach Cooley graduated from Sandersville High in 1945 and played football at Jones Junior College from 1947 to 1949. He was part of the 1947 undefeated Jones state championship team. He transferred to Mississippi State where he played football and baseball. His 36-year coaching career started in 1952 as an assistant football coach at Greenwood. Coach Cooley’s first head coaching job was a Waynesboro High where he spent four years from 1954 to 1957. He arrived at Kosciusko and led the Whippets for two seasons including an 11-0 season in 1960. After leading his high school teams to a record of 35-23, Sim was named head coach at his alma mater at Jones Junior College in 1961. He would guide the Bobcats as head football coach for 26 years until 1987 compiling a record of 187 wins, 92 losses, and 5 ties. Sim coached the Bobcats to one NJCAA National Championship, five MACJC state championships, and five bowl game appearances. Coach Cooley was the MACJC Coach of the Year five times. Along with membership into the MAC Coaches Hall of Fame, Coach Cooley was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1996, the Jones Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, and the MACJC Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2005, the field at the Bobcat football stadium was named “Sim Cooley Field” in his honor. Coach Cooley passed away on February 12, 2006.
Simeon M. “Sim” Cooley photo
Simeon M. “Sim” Cooley photo
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