“My basic philosophy is centered around 3 A’s:
Academics, Athletics, and Achievement in Life.”
Before becoming the director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, Jamal Cooks, coached at Skyline High School for 12 years.
Not only did Cooks' teams at Skyline win more than 95 percent of their dual meets, but they also won 10 straight girls Oakland Section Team Championships, 10 boys Oakland Section Team Championships, set 16 school records and made Top 10 in the country 10 times.
Besides dealing with new surroundings in his first track and field season at Bishop O'Dowd High, Jamal Cooks had a somewhat unique challenge -- incorporating many athletes who competed deep into March on winter sports teams.
With the Dragons' girls basketball team winning the California Interscholastic Federation Division III state championship in late March, and the girls soccer team winning the North Coast Section Division II championship in late February, a number of athletes had a late start to the spring season. But Cooks, the director of track and field at O'Dowd, was able to direct the team toward a late May peak culminating with a NCS Meet of Champions girls team title.