Kevin Cook is in his fifth season as head coach of the Winthrop women’s basketball program and has guided the Eagles to unprecedented heights during his four years, leading them to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, their first Big South Conference championship, and an all-time best RPI of 85th in the nation in 2014, and a WNIT victory in 2013.
The Eagles achieved back-to-back 20-plus win seasons for the first time in school history and a 17-13 mark in his first three years. His four-year record at Winthrop now stands at 66-59 while his overall college coaching record is 113-114 in eight years which includes four years at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
The former four-time WNBA world champion assistant coach with the Houston Comets became the 14th head coach in Winthrop's history after accepting the position on June 5, 2012 following one year as an assistant coach.
In 2013-14, Cook directed Winthrop to its finest season ever as a NCAA Division I member as the Eagles finished 24-9 enroute to capturing the Big South Tournament title and earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 2013-14 success came a year after Cook led the Eagles to only their second post-season appearance and first post-season victory since becoming a NCAA school in 1985 as they earned a spot in the Women's National Invitational Tournament and defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the first round on the road. As a result of Winthrop’s successful season in 2012-13, Cook was named one of three NCAA Mid-Major Rookie Head Coaches of the Year. During his one year as a Winthrop assistant, he helped guide the Eagles to an 18-13 record. In 2014-15, Cook led the Eagles to their fourth straight winning season as they finished with a 17-13 record.
Cook’s experience goes beyond the collegiate level as he was on the staff for 10 years of the Houston Comets dynasty of the WNBA. The Comets captured the first four WNBA championships and made the playoffs nine out of the first 10 years. He also served as an assistant coach for the victorious West squad in the WNBA’s first three All-Star games. For capturing its championships, Cook accompanied the Comets players and coaches to four different White House visits where the teams were recognized for their achievements.
Cook was able to meet former president’s George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush during his time with the Comets. On July 23, 2011 the WNBA released its Top 15 players of All-Time list and four Comet players that Cook coached made the list (Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson). Another of his former Comet stars, Brazilian great Janeth Arcain, will be enshrined in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on June 13 of next summer.
Prior to his arrival with the Houston Comets, Cook served as an Associate Head Coach for the University of Houston from 1995-97. From 1983-1993, Cook was an assistant coach at the University of Kansas under Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer, Marian E. Washington. During his time in Lawrence, Cook helped the Jayhawks to four conference championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and two WNIT berths.
Immediately prior to arriving at Winthrop, Cook spent four seasons as the head coach of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. where he led his team to a 24-4 record during the 2010-11 season and was named the WBCA Region III Coach of the Year. Gallaudet is the world’s only all-deaf college.
Cook’s international coaching experience comes from having led the Nigeria women’s basketball national team. He coached the Nigerian national team in the 2006 World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil and in 2007 he helped guide the team to a 7-1 record for a Silver Medal at the All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria.
During the past six years, Cook has visited six African countries hosting basketball fundamental clinics for coaches and players, and accompanied a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Mission Trip to Haiti during the summer of 2013. He has also served as a coach for several traveling teams, including teams that traveled to Brazil and Russia, and coached a traveling team that defeated the 2001 University of Connecticut squad.
In addition to his 2011 WBCA Region III Coach of the Year award, Cook has received several other honors. On April 5, 2010 he was named the winner of the WBCA prestigious Carol Eckman Award, was inducted into the Urbana University Hall of Fame in October of 2010 and in May of 2011 was the commencement speaker for Urbana University. He is now a voting member of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
Cook, born February 7, 1961, is the son of the late Herbert Cook and Ruthie Meek of Fremont, Ohio. He graduated with a degree in Social Science from Urbana University and received his Master of Administration degree from Gallaudet University in 2010. Cook is married to Francine and they have two daughters, Keshana, a junior at Wichita State University, and Kayla, a freshman at Highland Community College.
