New activities director chosen for Cooper High School

Willie Howard has been selected as the new activities director for Cooper High School. Mr. Howard has been an employee with Robbinsdale Area Schools for over 12 years. He will begin his new role effective July 1, 2022.

Mr. Howard is currently an assistant principal and head varsity football coach at Cooper. Mr. Howard has also served as activities assistant and dean of students during his tenure in the district. . 

As a coach, he has overseen a football team that has sent 120 players to play college football. He is the winningest coach in Cooper High School history, and was honored as the 2017 Minnesota High School Coach of the Year and the 2021 District and Section Coach of the Year. 

Because of his unique position within the district and his success with student athletes, Mr. Howard will continue to serve as the head coach, but will transition away from that role within the next three years. This transition period allows Coach Howard the opportunity to see his current team graduate from high school.

Mr. Howard has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership from Concordia University and a Master of Science from Minnesota State University-Mankato: Specialist in Educational Leadership and K-12 administrative and principal licensure.