From 1982 to 1984 he was a law clerk to attorney David B. Ellis and later to Judge Paul Conger of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama.

[1] He was in private practice in Alabama from 1984 to 1999, also serving in the Army National Guard from 1988 to 1991.

He was an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, from 2000 to 2003.

[2] On March 27, 2003, Coogler was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama vacated by H. Dean Buttram Jr. Coogler was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 22, 2003, and received his commission on May 28, 2003.

[4] and served until December 31, 2023, being succeeded by Judge R. David Proctor.