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ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio Athletics is saddened to learn of the passing of former Director of Golf Bob Cooley. 

Cooley served as the program's head coach from 1988 to 2018 and was promoted to Director of Golf in Sept. 2002. 

Cooley guided his alma mater to nine top-five finishes at the Mid-American Conference Championships. The Bobcats finished in the top three on four occasions -- including second-place finishes in 2002 and '04 and third-place finishes in 2012 and '17. Cooley was named MAC Coach of the Year following the 2001-02 campaign. The 12-best three-round team totals in program history have been achieved under his watch, and he coached six golfers who accounted for seven of the top-10 best season averages in program history.

"He was the kind of coach that any parent would want their son to play for," said Ohio's greatest golfer of all time, PGA champion and Ryder Cup player and captain Dow Finsterwald said at the time of Cooley's retirement in 2018. "Win or lose, they came to understand that winning without personal integrity is not a victory."

Cooley recruited and mentored two of the best golfers in Ohio's history in Erik Herberth and Peyton White. White solidified his place in Bobcat history as a senior in 2016-17. He departed Athens as the program's single-season scoring average record holder after averaging a 71.82 over 12 events and 34 rounds, breaking the previous record of 72.12 set by his high school coach Herberth, in 2001-02. He also became the first Bobcat to earn First Team All-MAC distinction since Herberth garnered honors in 2002. He was a Second Team All-MAC selection in both 2015 and '16. White totaled 16 career top-10 finishes over his four years. White represented Ohio in the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships West Lafayette Regional in May, qualifying as one of 45 individuals selected to compete in the six NCAA Regionals. He became the second Bobcat to qualify for NCAA Regional play as an at-large selection and first since 2002, when Herberth earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Central Regional in Little Rock, Ark. 

In addition to White and Herberth, the following individuals have earned All-MAC honors under Cooley – Paul Grauer (Second Team, 2012), Chad Warmbein (Second Team, 2009), Mark Cimarolli (Second Team, 2006) and Ryan Siekmann (Second Team, 2005).

Cooley raised more than $350,000 through his creation of the Bobcat Open, which served as a fundraiser for the Ohio golf teams. His teams were always been near the top of graduation rates and academic proficiency in Ohio athletics.

Before assuming head coaching duties with the Ohio men, Cooley assisted former head coach Kermit Blosser, many times traveling with the team. While playing for the Bobcats, he was a member of two MAC championship teams.

Along with being familiar with Bobcat golf, Cooley was no stranger to the Athens area. He graduated from Athens High School in 1966 and enrolled at Ohio University to pursue a bachelor's degree in business administration.

After graduating in 1971, Cooley served as an assistant golf professional at Village Country Club in Uniontown, Ohio. His next endeavor took him to the Canadian professional tour in 1973, where he competed in nine tournaments. In 1977, Cooley was reinstated to the amateur ranks by the United States Golf Association. He played in the 1978 and 1980 U.S. Amateur Championships in Plainfield, N.J., and Pinehurst, N.C., respectively.

Bob is survived by his wife of 34 years Nannette "Nan"; a daughter, Brynn (Tyler) Duke: a sister, Susan (Jeff) Bunch; a brother- in-law, John (Ewa Lewandowski) Borkowski; a sister-in-law, Barbara Denny; three nephews, Scott (Kimi) Bunch, Chris (Samantha) Bunch and Mark (Anna) Denny; a niece; Megan (Dan) Colascione; three grand nephews; one grand niece; numerous cousins, and many, many devoted friends.
Calling hours will be this Friday, January 23rd, at Jagers and Sons Funeral Home from 2-4pm and again from 6-8pm. Services will be this Saturday, January 24th, at 11 am at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations can be made to the Ohio University Foundation supporting Men's or Women's Golf teams. Mailing address is Ohio University Foundation, P.O. Box 869, Athens, OH 45701. Online donations can be made at give.ohio.edu. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.

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