Coogler attended a private Catholic high school in the Bay Area and began his college education at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he was initially on a football scholarship. When the college discontinued its football program, he transferred to California State University, Sacramento. There, he continued playing football and changed his academic focus to finance, while also enrolling in film studies courses. His growing interest in filmmaking led him to pursue graduate studies at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. During his time at USC, Coogler directed several short films, three of which received award nominations, helping to establish his reputation early on.

Breakthrough with Fruitvale Station

Coogler's feature film debut came with Fruitvale Station (2013), a powerful dramatization of the final 24 hours in the life of Oscar Grant, a young man fatally shot by a transit police officer in Oakland. The film was widely praised for its emotional impact and direction, grossing over $17 million worldwide. It earned numerous accolades, including the Best First Film Award from the New York Film Critics Circle and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Critical Success with Creed

Building on the momentum of his debut, Coogler was selected to direct Creed (2015), a spin-off of the Rocky franchise starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone. The film was both a critical and commercial success and helped reinvigorate the long-standing franchise. For his work on Creed, Coogler received the New Generation Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most promising young directors.