University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Athletics Mourns the Passing of Hamp Cook
12/26/2019 1:27:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss lost one of its noble gentlemen Christmas morning.
Hamp Cook, the former Southern Miss football player and assistant coach, as well as a long-time professional scout for the New Orleans Saints passed away at the age of 86.
His story began as an all-state linebacker in at Georgiana High School in Georgiana Ala., where he was a captain for both the football and basketball teams.
Cook then attended Southern Miss where he lettered for the Golden Eagles from 1952-54. He helped lead Southern Miss to two Sun Bowl appearances and also part of two victories over highly-ranked Southeastern Conference opponent Alabama.
He earned 1954 Little All-American and NAIA All-American honors and went on to become Mr. Mississippi Southern College and played in the Senior Bowl. He was later chosen as a member of the Southern Miss Team of the Century that was released in 2000.
Following his playing career, he started his coaching career as line coach at Moss Point High School in 1956 and then went on to become head coach of his alma mater, Georgiana High, where he put together a 20-8-2 record from 1957-60.
His next stop was as athletic director and head coach at Opp (Ala.) High School from 1961-64, where he put together a 20-19-3 mark, which included a 20-19-3 mark.
Cook then returned to Southern Miss where he served as an assistant coach under Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame coaches Thad "Pie" Vann and P.W. "Bear" Underwood from 1967-72.
His final athletic career stop came as a professional scout, where he spent more than 20 years for the New Orleans Saints and then worked for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition, he was inducted in the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Cook is survived by his three grown children, Tracey, Kyle and Chuck, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A frequent visitor in the Southern Miss football press box during his time as scout and then later during his retirement years, Cook always had a friendly smile and a hearty hand shake to extend to those also there to cover the Golden Eagle game.
That smile will certainly be missed.
Hamp Cook, the former Southern Miss football player and assistant coach, as well as a long-time professional scout for the New Orleans Saints passed away at the age of 86.
His story began as an all-state linebacker in at Georgiana High School in Georgiana Ala., where he was a captain for both the football and basketball teams.
Cook then attended Southern Miss where he lettered for the Golden Eagles from 1952-54. He helped lead Southern Miss to two Sun Bowl appearances and also part of two victories over highly-ranked Southeastern Conference opponent Alabama.
He earned 1954 Little All-American and NAIA All-American honors and went on to become Mr. Mississippi Southern College and played in the Senior Bowl. He was later chosen as a member of the Southern Miss Team of the Century that was released in 2000.
Following his playing career, he started his coaching career as line coach at Moss Point High School in 1956 and then went on to become head coach of his alma mater, Georgiana High, where he put together a 20-8-2 record from 1957-60.
His next stop was as athletic director and head coach at Opp (Ala.) High School from 1961-64, where he put together a 20-19-3 mark, which included a 20-19-3 mark.
Cook then returned to Southern Miss where he served as an assistant coach under Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame coaches Thad "Pie" Vann and P.W. "Bear" Underwood from 1967-72.
His final athletic career stop came as a professional scout, where he spent more than 20 years for the New Orleans Saints and then worked for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition, he was inducted in the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Cook is survived by his three grown children, Tracey, Kyle and Chuck, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A frequent visitor in the Southern Miss football press box during his time as scout and then later during his retirement years, Cook always had a friendly smile and a hearty hand shake to extend to those also there to cover the Golden Eagle game.
That smile will certainly be missed.
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