Kevin Cook
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lee Cook is an American basketball coach, and former collegiate athlete, who is now the women's basketball head coach at Gallaudet University
.*
He also serves as head coach/technical advisor of the Nigerian women's basketball U-19 National team
He served as the Nigerian National team coach from 2006 - 2008. Cook, was also an assistant coach for the WNBA Houston Comets
from 1997 - 2007.
In a 2011 interview with NCAA.com, Gallaudet All-American Easter Faafiti said of Cook: "He's like my father on the east coast. He has actually taught me a lot of things I never knew or realized about basketball or had even heard of before Coach Cook sat down and explained them to me."
, Ohio. He excelled in basketball where he was captain of the Fremont Ross High School basketball team. He graduated from Fremont Ross in 1979. He earned his bachelor degree from Urbana University
in 1983.It would be 27 years later until he received his Master's degree in Administration from Gallaudet University
in the Spring of 2010. Cook is also an author and motivational speaker.Cook is the son of Ruthie Eleanor and Herbert William Cook. He had one sister, Kelly, who died at age 48 in a housefire in Helena, Ohio.
Cook met his wife, Francine D. Langevine at the Washington DC Cherry Blossom festival on Easter day in 2010. They married on May 26, 2011 at a private ceremony in South Lake Tahoe, CA. He has two daughters from a previous marriage—Keshana Yvette Cook and Kayla Janelle Cook.
In June of 2008 Cook was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
.
on October 27, 2007. His best season at Gallaudet came in 2010-2011. That year Gallaudet won their first twenty games of the season, became nationally ranked, won the NEAC Conference championship and participated in the NCAA tournament.
Cook was named Head Coach of Garden City Community College on April 11, 1983 and guided the team to two consecutive play-off spots. The 1994-95 team won 20 games and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the National Polls.
In 2006, Cook became Head Coach of the Nigerian National Team and coached Nigeria in their first ever world Championships held in Brazil.
In the summer of 2007, Cook led the Nigerian National Team to an overall record of 14-3 in the all African Games (Silver Medal) and the Nations Cup competition.
In the summer of 2011, Cook served as Head Coach/Technical advisor of the Nigerian U-19 Women's Basketball Team. They participated in the World Championship held in Puerto Monte, Chile July 21-31.
Cook served as Associate Coach at the University of Houston from 1995-1997.
He then ventured into pro basketball becoming an assistant Coach to Naismith Hall of Fame Coach Van Chancellor
.Cook was a part of the WNBA Houston Comets dynasty.The team captured the first four WNBA championships and made the playoffs nine out of the first ten years.Cook also served as assistant coach for the victorious West squad in the WNBA's first three All-Star games.
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
.*
He also serves as head coach/technical advisor of the Nigerian women's basketball U-19 National team
He served as the Nigerian National team coach from 2006 - 2008. Cook, was also an assistant coach for the WNBA Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
from 1997 - 2007.
In a 2011 interview with NCAA.com, Gallaudet All-American Easter Faafiti said of Cook: "He's like my father on the east coast. He has actually taught me a lot of things I never knew or realized about basketball or had even heard of before Coach Cook sat down and explained them to me."
Personal life
Cook was raised in FremontFremont
- Places :- Other uses :*The Fremont Bridge , in Portland, Oregon*The Fremont Bridge , in Seattle, Washington*Fremont River , a tributary of the Colorado River*Mount Fremont, Washington, in maximum elevation...
, Ohio. He excelled in basketball where he was captain of the Fremont Ross High School basketball team. He graduated from Fremont Ross in 1979. He earned his bachelor degree from Urbana University
Urbana University
Urbana University is a private university specializing in liberal arts education. Urbana is located in Urbana, Ohio, approximately one hour west of Columbus and one hour northeast of Dayton.-History:...
in 1983.It would be 27 years later until he received his Master's degree in Administration from Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
in the Spring of 2010. Cook is also an author and motivational speaker.Cook is the son of Ruthie Eleanor and Herbert William Cook. He had one sister, Kelly, who died at age 48 in a housefire in Helena, Ohio.
Cook met his wife, Francine D. Langevine at the Washington DC Cherry Blossom festival on Easter day in 2010. They married on May 26, 2011 at a private ceremony in South Lake Tahoe, CA. He has two daughters from a previous marriage—Keshana Yvette Cook and Kayla Janelle Cook.
In June of 2008 Cook was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
Collegiate coaching
Cook became head coach of women's basketball at Gallaudet UniversityGallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
on October 27, 2007. His best season at Gallaudet came in 2010-2011. That year Gallaudet won their first twenty games of the season, became nationally ranked, won the NEAC Conference championship and participated in the NCAA tournament.
Cook was named Head Coach of Garden City Community College on April 11, 1983 and guided the team to two consecutive play-off spots. The 1994-95 team won 20 games and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the National Polls.
International experience
Cook served as an advance scout for the USA Women's National team in 2002. That USA team won a gold medal at the World Championships held in China.In 2006, Cook became Head Coach of the Nigerian National Team and coached Nigeria in their first ever world Championships held in Brazil.
In the summer of 2007, Cook led the Nigerian National Team to an overall record of 14-3 in the all African Games (Silver Medal) and the Nations Cup competition.
In the summer of 2011, Cook served as Head Coach/Technical advisor of the Nigerian U-19 Women's Basketball Team. They participated in the World Championship held in Puerto Monte, Chile July 21-31.
Assistant coaching
Cook served as assistant Coach under Women's Basketball Hall of Famer, Marian E. Washington at the University of Kansas from 1983 - 1993. He helped the Jayhawks to 3 Conference Championships; 4 NCAA appearances; and 2 WNIT berths.Cook served as Associate Coach at the University of Houston from 1995-1997.
He then ventured into pro basketball becoming an assistant Coach to Naismith Hall of Fame Coach Van Chancellor
Van Chancellor
Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
.Cook was a part of the WNBA Houston Comets dynasty.The team captured the first four WNBA championships and made the playoffs nine out of the first ten years.Cook also served as assistant coach for the victorious West squad in the WNBA's first three All-Star games.
Honors and awards
- April 5,2010 Cook named winner of WBCA pretigious Carol Eckman Award.
- October 2010 2010 Urbana UniversityUrbana UniversityUrbana University is a private university specializing in liberal arts education. Urbana is located in Urbana, Ohio, approximately one hour west of Columbus and one hour northeast of Dayton.-History:...
Athletic Hall of Fame. - March 2011 NEAC Conference Coach of the Year
- March 2011 WBCA Region III Coach of the Year
- May 7,2011 Urbana University Commencement Speaker