Beloved Wakefield High School athletic director battling cancer

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Beloved Wakefield High School Athletic Director Dexter Cooley is stepping down from his position to focus on his battle with colon cancer.

Cooley is the only AD the school has ever known. He's made it his mission to serve everyone else around him.

"For 15 years, I've come to school every morning wondering what I could do to help them have an easier day, to make their day easier," he said.

But the colon cancer diagnosis in April has reversed the role he had grown so accustomed to. Now his family, colleagues, and even former players from his time as a basketball coach at other Triangle schools are coming to his aid and lifting him up.

"I've heard from kids that I coached 20, 25 years ago," he said. "I've had some of them tell me, 'Man if you fight this disease as hard as you worked us, you gonna win. No doubt!'"

He knew it wouldn't be easy, but going through chemo treatments and preparing for surgery is taking its toll.

"No matter what - how positive you are, how positive the people around you are - your mind sometimes wanders you know?" he explained.

But those touched by the beloved coach and leader who's built a legacy of success are now making sure he comes out winning this battle as well.

"People have just been phenomenal. Phenomenal. It's be been great," said Cooley.

You can leave Cooley an inspirational message on the ABC11 Facebook page.