After a successful, but controversial, stint as head coach at Alabama State University, Cole revived the storied football program at Montgomery, Alabama's Sidney Lanier High School; during Cole's two years at Lanier, the Poets won the City Championship each year, and they never lost to a city opponent.
On December 3, 2008, Cole was announced as Stillman College's third head coach since the reinstatement of the program in 1999 in replacing Greg Thompson.
In 1981, Cole signed with the Austin Texans, a minor league team in Texas that was a member of the American Football Association (AFA).
[11] He helped coach two future NFL draft picks: linebackers Fredd Young and Leo Barker.
[16] In 1991, Cole was among the final candidates for the head coaching position at Morgan State after the departure of Ed Wyche.
After returning to Toledo to coach running backs, Cole was approached by Diggs with the offer of becoming the defensive coordinator for Morgan State.
[17] After the 1992 season, Diggs was under fire and 66 of the team's players signed a petition for his dismissal and Cole was frequently named as the preferred successor.
[citation needed] After two seasons with Cincinnati, Cole was hired as the head football coach for Tennessee State.
It was also revealed that Tennessee State had admitted two athletes who competed under false names along with every football player receiving monetary compensation for making it to the playoffs.
[26] Johnnie had been suspended from his duties since 1998, while L. C. remained as head coach, but was later alleged to have provided false and misleading information during the NCAA's investigation.
[27][28] Despite all the investigations and allegations, Cole helped lead Tennessee State to an unbeaten regular season and their second-straight Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) title.
[37] While awaiting the NCAA's ruling, Cole took another head coaching job, this time, for Sidney Lanier High School.
[41] He finished his second season with a 3–7 record before rejoining his brother, who was now the head football coach for Texas Southern, as his defensive coordinator.