Livingstone College Athletics

Charles Cooley a native of Wyandanch New York, while raised in the Bronx New York. Charles started playing organized football in the 8th grade in Goldsboro North Carolina. While at Goldsboro High he made all conference at Offensive and Defensive Tackle as well as kicker, and he was recruited heavily from Division I schools at the offensive and kicker position. Charles signed a letter of intent to play football at Hampton University, but later on after building a mentorship with coach Greg Richardson decided on Livingstone College. Charles started every game for 4 years as a true freshman for the Livingstone College Football Team (42 consecutive games record) from 1995-1999 as an Offensive Center, Guard, and Kicker.

As a freshman he made Honorable Mention All CIAA Center. Sophomore year he made All CIAA 2nd Team at the Center position, and Honorable Mention All CIAA Kicker. His Junior year he was selected All CIAA 2nd Team Kicker, and he made Black College All American honorable mention kicker, being the #4 in total points as a kicker in Black College Football. His senior year he made offensive lineman of the week 3 times, he finished his career as a kicker with 121 points in only  3 years as the starting kicker  which is a Livingstone Record, and a top 5 all- time CIAA in Pat’s made. He made 1st Team All CIAA at center He was the Team Captain, He made the Associated Press Little All American Team at center, He made the Daktronics All South Region First Team at center, Black College All American First Team at Center, Burger King (Coaches) All American First Team at Center, Don Hansen’s Football Gazette First Team All American at Center, Daktronics All American at Center. He played and started in 2 Pioneer Bowls an offensive Lineman and made 8 Pat’s. He won 2 CIAA Football Championships 1997, 1998 He ran for 2, 2point conversions in his career off botched kicks. He was awarded the Baxter Holmer Memorial Award 1998 given to the top senior student-athlete. He was a member of the 1997, 1998 Indoor outdoor Track Team at Livingstone College where he threw the shotput, discus and javelin. He made the Dean’s List several times as a student athlete. Professionally he played arena football with the New Haven Ninjas in New Haven Connecticut, and was offered a Free Agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins, in which he declined to pursue his professional career in mental health.

Charles came back to Livingstone College and graduated in 2017, and He is married to Teresa Brisco Cooley of Cambridge Maryland.