Cooley was welcomed to the Gonzaga staff in July 2023.
During her first year on staff, GU celebrated unprecedented success in the 2023 season. The program advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time, and first since 20005, winning its first tournament game ever. The Bulldogs won the West Coast Conference title for the first time, beating Portland, Pepperdine and Santa Clara all in the same season. GU's six conference wins were the most in program history. The Zags' 14 overall victories were the second-most in program history. Gonzaga set new single season scoring (56), assist (44), and point total (156) program records. The Bulldogs had the No. 5 scoring offense in the nation.
Following the season, the Gonzaga's women's soccer coaches were named the West Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches College Services program.
Cooley appeared in 65 matches in a Zag uniform, starting in 29. She started in every game during her junior and senior seasons as a key member of a tremendous backline. She finished with 3,581 career minutes. Cooley was named Second Team All-West Coast Conference in the Spring of 2021. She received Academic All-Conference four times, boasting a 3.93 grade point average at graduation. She also earned her Master of Organizational Leadership degree from Gonzaga in 2021.
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"The opportunity to rejoin my alma mater and former program in a full-time coaching capacity is one that I don't take lightly," Cooley said. "I loved being able to contribute to the success of this team during my time as a player and am so honored to get the chance to do the same as a coach! Playing college soccer is a unique experience, and I hope to assist in the continual, holistic development of the young women on this team as they contribute to the betterment and longevity of the Gonzaga women's soccer program."
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Cooley spent the last season as the women's soccer assistant coach at Whitworth University in Spokane. The Pirates finished with a winning record her lone season as assistant.
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"Maddie represents everything we love about our program," Watkins said. "As a player, she got better at every training, finishing her senior years as one of the winningest players in Gonzaga history. Her steady, consistent determination will be a great example to our players as we grow as a program."
