Palm Beach Atlantic University Athletics

Jessica Cooley was named the head softball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic on September 9, 2019 after spending 10 years with the Mississippi State University softball program. She has led a record above .500 in both seasons at the helm. Cooley has totaled four wins against ranked teams during her tenure at PBA.

The Sailfish returned to the field in the spring of 2021, finishing with a 17-12 record in a shortened season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Under Cooley's watch, PBA was ranked in the South Region rankings for the first time since 2018. Abbey Busby earned All-American and All-Region honors while becoming the first PBA pitcher to earn SSC Pitcher of the Year. Meredith Milam also earned All-Region honors while being named to the SSC first team. Katherine Budnovich and Faith Allen also earned All-SSC honors under Cooley's guidance.

Cooley's first season at the helm was cut short in 2020 due to the Covid-19 virus. Before the season was canceled, she led the Sailfish to a 15-11 overall record and a 7-5 record in the SSC. Although the season was shortened, it still included exciting wins over No. 24 Valdosta State, No. 17 Saint Leo and RV West Florida.

• 2 All-American Honorees
• 4 All-Region Honorees
• 5 Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards
• 4 All-Sunshine State Conference Honorees
• 1 Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year
• 1 CoSIDA Academic All-American Award Winners
• 2 CoSIDA Academic All-District Award Winners

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Cooley joined the Bulldogs staff in the fall of 2013 after a standout four-year career on the diamond. She was heavily involved in all aspects of the Mississippi State softball program after shifting her role from a student-athlete. She helped to prepare schedules and recruiting visits while also managing the operating budget and helping to instruct during practices and games.

She left Starkville as one of the best power hitters in school history. Cooley is still the only player in SEC history with four multi-home run games in a single season and her 27 career home runs rank sixth in school history. Her best year came in her junior season where she hit .310 with 15 homers while driving in 41 and slugging .614. That year she was named a CollegeSportsMadness Third-Team All-American while also earning an SEC Player of the Week honor on March 5 and a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week honor. Cooley was named to the All-SEC Freshman team in 2010 and was an Academic All-SEC selection during her time with the Bulldogs. She was additionally named to the SEC Community Service Team in 2013.

• Cooley graduated from Mississippi State with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and with a master’s degree in sport administration.