Photo courtesy of Lorne and Sons Funeral Home - Delray Beach
Delray Beach, Florida
Jul 29, 1929 – Oct 23, 2014 (Age 85)
"Coach" Randy Cooper's journey on this earth ended on October 23, 2014. He shall be remembered not for his death but for the way he "played" the game of life. He lived and loved athletics his entire life. Born in West Virginia in 1929, he was a star athlete in high school playing four years of football, basketball and track, making All Conference in football and graduating at age 16. A "walk on" at WV Institute of Technology in 1946, he was the only high school graduate to receive a full scholarship. He led the WV Conference in rushing his Junior year and went on to set six Conference records his senior year. He made small college All-American his senior year. He was Who's Who among students in Colleges and Universities in 1950. After graduating in '50 he coached at Oak Hill High School for two years.
He volunteered for the US Air Force (Korean War) and served from 1951 to 1954 as First Lieutenant. He was voted Most Valuable Player in the year he played football at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
After leaving the Air Force he coached in Van, West Virginia, winning the Boone County Championship before heading to South Florida to play minor league baseball for two years.
He became a teacher and coach at Seacrest High School in Delray Beach in 1955. He coached JV basketball through the 1959-60 school year, highlighted by an unbeaten 20 game season in 1958-59 that was the centerpiece of an overall 35 consecutive wins. He coached the baseball team as well, with a record of 33 wins and 19 losses.
He was made Head Football Coach in 1960 and remained in this position for the final 10 years of Seacrest High School and the first two years it became Atlantic High School. The record for these twelve years was 90 wins, 23 losses and 7 ties. The teams won six Suncoast Conference Championships and never had a losing season. After a 1 point loss to Pahokee in the 2nd game of the 1966 season, Seacrest never lost another game and won 29 of its final 30 games. Coach Cooper was named coach of the Decade (1960-1970) for Palm Beach County.
He is in the Oak Hill High School Hall of Fame, the WV Tech Hall of Fame, was inducted into Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, and elected to Florida Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003.
After stepping down as head coach, he became Director of Atlantic Community High School for 23 years and was awarded Educator of the Year in Palm Beach County in 1987. He continued his athletic endeavors during these years and was Southeastern United States Pentathlon Champion in 1986 for ages 55-60. He became a champion tennis player too, and won the class A men's singles and doubles at Quail Ridge Tennis Club 2000-2003, and was a member of the Quail Ridge County championship team in 2004.
He loved and was adored by his grandchildren, Nicole Cooper and Jonathon "Corey" Cooper and his son Chris Cooper, daughter Danna Cooper, and his lifelong mate of 63 years, Patricia Cooper. He is also survived by his sister, Mayzella Mahan, and many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2014, at 2:30PM in the end zone of the Old Atlantic Community High School field, 2223 North Seacrest Blvd., Delray Beach.
I played for Coach Cooper as a student athlete you could not ask for a better teach coach or role model. His compassion for others defined who he was as a person. As a coach he believe in getting best out of all of his player. Tank you coach for the lessons.
Leonard Mitchell
November 01, 2025 | Delray Beach, FL
No matter how many years that have gone by, you are always thought of in the present. Just like you are still here with us.. I'm sure you are !
Wendy Workman
May 29, 2022 | Fletcher | Family
Remembered By
Wendy Workman
May 29, 2022 | Fletcher, NC | Family
Coach Randy Cooper,Seacrest High School, Delray Beach, Florida was a perfect example of being an overachiever( by most standards) in his own athletic endeavors, he never quit! He taught us a lot about winning in life, achieving life, but remaining humble. His tireless efforts in behalf of his student athletes lead many of us two follow his example and give back. There are mini great stories about Coach Coop including how he recruited me to become a member of his team. I never forgot that,...
Bill Terry
May 26, 2022 | Mt. Pleasant, SC | Teacher
I remember many Friday night after game parties when all coaches as well as my husband, Bill, sat and discussed the game. Randy was always positive and appreciative of the help that his staff gave.
Jeanne Chwalik
October 26, 2021
Randy grew up in Oak Hill WV and was part of our family there. He and my Mother Elizabeth Lee Mahoney were best of friends in Oak Hill. In Florida, he was one of my best of friends, and treated me like a relative. We' would take annual trips to WV from Delray. He is surely missed, because he touched so many lives positively. If you made a gentlemen's bet with him on a college football game, you had to sign the napkin with him on who took who and point spread to claim you won the bet. I...
Michael Morgan
October 27, 2019 | Boynton Beach, FL | Friend
I remember Randy as a strong and moral man which was only outshined by his love for his family. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren. A rare gem, they don't make them like this anymore !
All my love, Wendy
Wendy Workman
November 30, 2014 | Hendersonville, NC
Remembered By
lyndon smith
November 23, 2014 | Atlanta, GA
It may sound strange but I will always carry Coach Cooper with me. You see while playing Cage Ball my Freshman year, my front tooth was knocked out. "Coach" put it back in and got me to a dentist. Almost 50 years later I still have the tooth. All dentist I have seen say its a 1 in a million that I still have it. God bless the entire Seacrest family who will miss "The Coach".
Jim McElveen
November 12, 2014 | Jacksonville, FL
