Dick Cooley
Born: 1921 in Wakeman, Ohio
Died: Oct. 17, 2014 in Amherst, Ohio
Family: Wife – Patricia (died, 2000). Children: Camilia, Dane, Rhonda and Kyle. Seven grandchildren
Coaching highlights
Amherst Steele High School
1958-82: Track and cross country coach
1962 and ’77: Division I boys state cross country champions
1978: Division I girls state cross country runners-up
1981: Division I boys state cross country runners-up
Qualified cross country teams to state 13 times for his coaching career.
Overall, won 19 Lakeland Conference boys track titles in 24 years. That includes 12 straight Lakeland Conference boys titles (1970-81). He also won four Lakeland Conference girls titles (1978-81).
Dual meet record: 180-21. 54 major meet wins
Coached three state track champions: Ken Greer (880 yards, 1963), Tom Schoemig (mile, 1965) and Peter Kummant (two miles, 1975)
Other achievements
1942-44: U.S. Army- served in the European Theatre, 80th Infantry Division, 3rd Army.
Trombone soloist in the “Ritz Trumpeteers,” an instrument ensemble group
1983-98: United States Track and Field Association official. Served an Olympic pole vault official at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Honors
1972: Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Association
2017: Amherst Athletic Hall of Fame
Education
1939: Fremont Ross High School
1950: Kent State University