CHICO, Calif. -- Pleasant Valley High football coach Mark Cooley is talking for the first time since recovering from the coronavirus.

“I was achy and super, super tired for like three days straight,” said Cooley. “I think I slept for fourteen hours and on that third day I realized I lost my sense of smell. That has since came back.

Cooley spent fourteen days quarantined and tested negative for COVID-19 last week. He said he is symptom free and wants to set the record straight regarding his interaction with the football team this month.

“[I was] absolutely not [showing any symptoms], anytime I was at a football practice,” said Cooley. “I had zero symptoms. July 1st was the last practice I attended and I didn’t have any symptoms until the morning of July 6th.”

Cooley says the football team had July 2-6 off for Independence Day weekend. Cooley got tested on Monday, July 6th.

“I immediately went home and sent out an email to the administration, district’s office and to my parents and players of my varsity football team saying I will not be at practice this week due to me testing for COVID-19,” said Cooley.

The Chico Unified School District canceled all sporting activities the following week.

“As of right now, to my knowledge there has not been one P.V. football player, nor any other P.V. football coach that has tested positive for the coronavirus,” said Cooley. “I am the only lucky one so far.”

Cooley says he has no idea how he got infected.

“I was definitely one of those people that never thought I was going to get it,” said Cooley. “I’m thankful for the fact that it wasn’t hospital related. You never think you’re going to get the flu and this is one of those things, where unfortunately, I got it.”

Cooley would also like to dispel rumors that he was at Lake Almanor during Fourth of July weekend. He says he has not been there in four years