Judah Cooks
Encyclopedia
Judah Cooks is a retired American soccer midfielder
who coaches the D.C. United Academy
U-18 team. He played professionally in Major League Soccer
and the USL A-League and was a member of the United States men's national under-17 soccer team at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
.
, graduating from Ocean View High School
in 1991. He attended Cal Poly Pomona where he played on the men’s soccer team in 1991 and 1992. He transferred to Cal State Fullerton after his sophomore year and played on the Titan’s soccer team in 1993 and 1994.
where he was a two-time high school All American soccer player. In addition to his outstanding high school career, Cooks also played all four games for the United States men's national under-17 soccer team at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
. Cooks signed a letter of intent to attend and play soccer at Rutgers University
. However, after being arrested for battery in April 1995, at the end of his senior year of high school, Rutgers withdrew its scholorship offer. In the fall of 1995, Cooks entered the University of Maryland
, but the university did not allow him to play until his legal problems had been resolved. Cooks played two seasons with the Terps (1996-1997) before leaving school early to turn professional.
. The league then placed him with D.C. United
. In 1998 and 1999, Cooks played for both Project 40 in the USISL A-League and D.C. United in MLS. On May 4, 2001, United waived Cooks. He signed with the Charleston Battery
of the USL A-League. In June 2001, the Battery sent him on loan to the Miami Fusion
for one game. Cooks played five games for the Battery, then moved to the Milwaukee Rampage
at the end of the season. In 2002, he played for the Atlanta Silverbacks
and in 2003 for the Syracuse Salty Dogs
.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who coaches the D.C. United Academy
D.C. United Academy
The D.C. United Academy is the youth and development program for Major League Soccer club, D.C. United. The program consists of four levels: the under-23 and under-20 teams, as well as the Academy and Pre-Academy teams...
U-18 team. He played professionally in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and the USL A-League and was a member of the United States men's national under-17 soccer team at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in the cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya, and Gifu City in Japan between 21 August and 4 September 1993...
.
Youth
Lak grew up in Huntington Beach, CaliforniaHuntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, graduating from Ocean View High School
Ocean View High School
Ocean View High School is located in Huntington Beach, California. OVHS was established in 1976 whose mascot is the Seahawks. Currently, there are approximately 1,600 enrolled students.-International Baccalaureate Magnet School:...
in 1991. He attended Cal Poly Pomona where he played on the men’s soccer team in 1991 and 1992. He transferred to Cal State Fullerton after his sophomore year and played on the Titan’s soccer team in 1993 and 1994.
Youth
The older brother of Micah Cooks, Judah Cooks graduated from Walt Whitman High SchoolWalt Whitman High School
Walt Whitman High School is a public secondary institution serving roughly the western part of Bethesda--an unincorporated suburban area of Washington, DC, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The school is named in honor of the American poet. It is fed into by Thomas W. Pyle Middle School.-History:The...
where he was a two-time high school All American soccer player. In addition to his outstanding high school career, Cooks also played all four games for the United States men's national under-17 soccer team at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in the cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya, and Gifu City in Japan between 21 August and 4 September 1993...
. Cooks signed a letter of intent to attend and play soccer at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. However, after being arrested for battery in April 1995, at the end of his senior year of high school, Rutgers withdrew its scholorship offer. In the fall of 1995, Cooks entered the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, but the university did not allow him to play until his legal problems had been resolved. Cooks played two seasons with the Terps (1996-1997) before leaving school early to turn professional.
Professional
In January 1998, Cooks signed a Project-40 contract with Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. The league then placed him with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. In 1998 and 1999, Cooks played for both Project 40 in the USISL A-League and D.C. United in MLS. On May 4, 2001, United waived Cooks. He signed with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL A-League. In June 2001, the Battery sent him on loan to the Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
for one game. Cooks played five games for the Battery, then moved to the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
at the end of the season. In 2002, he played for the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
and in 2003 for the Syracuse Salty Dogs
Syracuse Salty Dogs
The Syracuse Salty Dogs were a professional men's soccer team based in Syracuse, New York. The club were a member of the USL A-League, playing only two seasons from 2003-2004. The club was owned and operated by the Syracuse Pro Sports Group and played most home games at P&C Stadium...
.