By Matt Jones
CLEVELAND, Miss. – On a crisp and blustery evening at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, almost 12 years to the day from his first career collegiate head coaching victory, Todd Cooley led the Delta State University (2-0) football team to a 41-9 win over North Greenville University (0-2) on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2025. With the victory, Cooley (77-46) eclipsed Horace McCool (76-48-3) for the all-time program wins record by a head coach with 77.
“I’m so blessed to have been here at DSU for this amount of time. This accomplishment was for our entire program,” Cooley said. “I want to thank all the coaches and administrators I have worked with. Most importantly, I want to thank all the young men who played for us. They believed in our process and bought into our Family. I’m very thankful and humbled by this milestone.”
Cooley, who came to Delta State after serving as offensive coordinator at Northwestern (La.) State, recorded his first career win on Sept. 7, 2013, 24-14, at Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena. Since that night, the Nashville, Ark., native has produced one of Mississippi’s most decorated collegiate coaching resumes.
The four-time Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year has led the Statesmen since 2013, guiding the Green-and-White to Gulf South Conference titles in 2014 (9-2), 2022 (11-2) and 2023 (10-2).
His squads have advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs on four occasions, making the postseason dance in 2014, 2017, 2022, and 2023. The Statesmen advanced to the Quarterfinals in 2017, 2022 and 2023.
During Cooley’s tenure, 30 Statesmen have been named NCAA Division II All-American or honorable mention All-American with 101 selected as All-Gulf South Conference.
Cooley’s 77 victories top a distinguished list of former Delta State head coaches. McCool, who led the Statesmen from 1961-1973, amassed a 76-48-3 overall record. Gene Chadwich spent 13 seasons patrolling the sidelines in Cleveland from 1948-1960, accumulating a 67-46-1. The DSU career top 10 list for coaching victories is listed below.
After opening the season with back-to-back home games, the No. 16 Statesmen (2-0) hit the road to face the University of North Carolina-Pembroke (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. Kickoff is set for 1 PM at Grace P. Johnson Stadium in Pembroke, N.C.
DELTA STATE CAREER COACHING TOP TEN
COACH YEARS OVERALL RECORD
Todd Cooley 12 77-46
Horace McCool 14 76-48-3
Gene Chadwick 13 67-46-1
Ron Roberts 5 47-17
Rick Rhoades 4 38-20
Jim “Red” Parker 6 34-26-4
Todd Knight 6 28-32-2
Steve Campbell 3 27-8
Herman Zimonski 7 27-30-5
Robert McGraw 4 22-19-1
