Longtime Navy men's track & field head coach Steve Cooksey, 75, passed away peacefully March 21 in Annapolis, surrounded by his family.
Cooksey served 29 seasons as the head coach of the Navy men's track & field program, retiring Aug. 30, 2017.
In his nearly three decades at the helm, the former All-American high jumper and 14-time Patriot League Coach of the Year guided 14 Midshipmen to a total of 23 All-America honors.
Under his leadership, Navy compiled an overall dual meet record of 353-48 (.880), while earning 14 Patriot League team titles (nine indoor, five outdoor) and producing more than 450 All-Patriot League honorees.
The Midshipmen won nine Patriot League indoor championships (2004-05, 2008, 2011, 2013-17) and five outdoor championships (2008, 2014-17) under Cooksey. Additionally, Navy won three consecutive Heptagonal outdoor titles from 1991-93 and captured back-to-back Heptagonal indoor championships in 1992-93. The team also claimed the Colonial Athletic Association outdoor title in 1991.
Cooksey's success extended to Navy's Star Meet competitions against archrival Army, where his teams posted a 37-21 record against the Black Knights. Over his final 17 seasons, the Midshipmen won 23 of 34 dual meet competitions against Army, including nine indoor-outdoor season sweeps.
Cooksey arrived in Annapolis in 1984, assisting legendary coach Al Cantello with both the cross country and track & field programs for four seasons before taking over as head coach.
Prior to Navy, Cooksey spent six years at Ball State, where he began as an assistant in 1974. He served as acting head cross country coach during the 1978-79 season before becoming head coach of both the cross country and track & field programs in 1979.
During his time at Ball State, Cooksey coached 18 NCAA qualifiers, three All-Americans and one NCAA champion.
In 1998, he was named head coach of the United States World Junior Championship team and also served on several U.S. national teams. Cooksey later served as head coach of the 2008 U.S. World Indoor Championship team.
His path to becoming one of the nation's top collegiate track coaches began in Terre Haute, Ind., where he was a nationally ranked high jumper, two-time captain and team MVP at Indiana State.
Cooksey enjoyed a decorated career with the Sycamores, earning NCAA All-America and U.S. Track & Field Federation All-America honors.
An associate professor in the physical education department at the Naval Academy, Cooksey received the Superintendent's Distinguished Athletic Leadership Award in 2003 for excellence in teaching and coaching.
Steve was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend who treated everyone with respect. He had a remarkable ability to inspire those around him to reach their full potential.
In his free time, he enjoyed traveling, playing golf and listening to music, but most of all spending time with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mom, Lea Reyher-Long; his dad, Bill Reyher; Amelia and James Higham; his mother-in-law, Agnes M. Howe; and his brother-in-law, Mike Anderson.
Steve is survived by his Wife, Valerie Cooksey; daughter, Brooke Mervine (Dave Visconti); sister, Kay Beehler; his brothers, Mark (Janna), Mike (Susan), Kehrt (Marzenna), and Billy Reyher; his brothers-in-law, Cliff Howe (Mary Lou) and Woody Howe (Lisa); and Barbara Anderson; the Higham family; and many cherished nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Monday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Neumann Church in Annapolis.
