Delta State and head football coach Todd Cooley have agreed on a contract extension, the university announced on Friday.
While details surrounding the extension were not released, keeping Cooley in Cleveland is big news for the Division II program. Since taking over in 2013, Cooley has led the team to three Gulf South Conference championships and four playoff appearances. On top of that, he’s been honored as the GSC’s coach of the year four different times.
“Our football program has achieved success in the classroom, in the community, and on the field in recent years under Coach Cooley’s leadership,” Delta State director of athletics Mike Kinnison said. “Continuity and retention of coaching staffs is a top priority for continued success, and we look forward with excitement to the program’s future under Todd’s direction.”
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The last two years have epitomized how far the program has come under Cooley’s direction. Following a stretch of rebuilding between 2018-21, the Statesmen have gone 21-4 over the past two seasons while making it to the second round of the playoffs both years.
“It’s an honor to be the head coach here; I’ve said that since day one,” Cooley said. “I thank God every day for this opportunity. I appreciate our administration and the confidence they have in our staff. We have a really good culture here. We’re excited about the last two years, but we also want to be even better.”
Delta State, whose biggest loss will be quarterback Patrick Shegog as he works toward a future in the NFL, will look to go even further in 2024 as the landscape of the GSC begins to change with West Georgia leaving for the Division I level and Shorter joining the Conference Carolinas. So far this offseason, they have inked seven players paired with a commitment from former Southern Miss quarterback Jake Lange.
The last and only time the program won a national championship was in 2000.
