In February 1897, the university agreed to pay part of Cooke’s salary, and he was employed by the school full-time by the fall of 1897. This made him one of the earliest professional coaches.
By February 1897, the university had reached an agreement to cover a portion of Cooke's wages, and by the autumn of 1897, he was working for the school on a full-time basis. As a result, he became one of the first professionals in his field.