MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama head track and field coach Paul Bruske announced the hiring of Michael Cooley as an assistant track and field coach on Thursday. 

"We are happy to have Michael Cooley as a part of the team," Bruske said. "It is great having a local guy, one of the best sprinters Mobile has ever produced, as a coach on our staff.

"Cooley has volunteered with us for the past year. It was nice to be able to reward his loyalty when we had an opening. We feel like he can help us continue develop our sprinting events."

Cooley comes South Alabama after a stint of multiple coaching positions at Blount High School, his alma mater.
The Prichard, Ala., native was the track and field co-head coach from 2009-2011. His other coaching experience includes being an assistant coach for football from 2012-2014 and women's basketball 2009-2016.

While with the Leopards, the program produced 67 Alabama High School Athletic Association track and field championship finalists. He helped lead program that broke 22 school records and had 26 high schoolers qualify for the 2011 ASHAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships – the most to qualify in school history. 

Cooley lettered all four years at Alabama (2004-2008) as a sprinter for the Crimson Tide's track and field team. He anchored the second all-time 4x400m relay team in school history in 2006 and was an NCAA regional qualifier. Cooley earned All-American honors along with his teammates after placing fifth in the 4x400m relay in the 2006 NCAA Championships. 

As a member of the Crimson Tide, Cooley also participated in the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2006 as a member of Team USA at the 2006 North American-Caribbean American Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Cooley became one of Alabama's stand out sprinters throughout his collegiate career, becoming an 18-time scorer in indoor and outdoor SEC Conference Championships. He qualified for the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships as a senior and placed ninth in the 400m earning him All-American honors. Cooley's indoor 400m time of 46.53 set during his final year in Tuscaloosa still ranks fourth-overall in school history. He was also named to the 2008 SEC track and field community service team in his final year with the Tide. 

The 2008 Alabama graduate earned his degree in history. Cooley attended Blount High School and was the 400m AHSAA Indoor 400m champion in 2003. 

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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