SENATOBIA – Northwest strength and conditioning coach
Danny Ray Cole passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
Memorial arrangements were announced late Tuesday afternoon and include a visitation on Friday, June 5 from 1-5 P.M. at
Cooley's Mortuary in Batesville, Miss. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 6 at 11 A.M. at the cemetery of
West Camp Missionary Baptist Church, also located in Batesville.
"There are few who embodied Northwest Ranger spirit like
Danny Ray Cole," Northwest president Dr. Michael Heindl said in a statement. "His positivity and dedication to student-athletes, Ranger athletics and Northwest Mississippi Community College as a whole will be sorely missed."
Cole had just completed his 19th year on the athletic staff at Northwest and was named the Junior College Strength Coach of the Year by Samson's in the March 2010 issue of American Football Monthly magazine. In addition to his latest role, Cole also served as the defensive line coach his first eight seasons from 2001-08. He also taught fitness and conditioning classes Monday-Thursday and evening classes on the Senatobia campus.
During his stint as the Rangers' defensive line coach under Bobby Franklin (2001-04) and Randy Pippin (2005-08), Cole coached 13 All-MACJC players, including NJCAA All-American Chris Herring, who compiled 86 total tackles, 35 hurries, 22 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks in 2003.
Cole was a member of the Mississippi Coaches Association and came to Northwest from South Panola High School, where he coached the defensive line and was strength and conditioning coach from 1991 through 2000.
During his 10-year stay at South Panola, Cole helped the Tigers reach the Class 5A State Championship game on four occasions and won it in both 1993 and 1999.
A 1980 graduate of South Panola, Cole attended Northwest for one year and majored in physical education. After Northwest, he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1991.
Away from the playing field, Cole lifted weights as a hobby, earning him a place as one of the "Strongest Men in Mississippi" by the Mississippi High School Coaches Association.
Cole competed in the super heavyweight category of 300 pounds and up and can bench press 600 pounds and squat 900 and once qualified for the 1986 Olympic team as a world-class bencher.
