*Courtesy of Coe Sports Information
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Coe College President
David McInally and Vice President
Larry Lee announced the hire of
Steve Cook as Coe College's new director of athletics & recreation on Tuesday morning. Cook, who is in his 24th year at Coe, will remain the head baseball coach while taking over athletic director duties effective immediately. During his time at Coe College, Cook has served as an assistant baseball coach, admission counselor, head baseball coach and assistant director of athletics, a title he has held for nearly 15 years.
"We are thrilled to have Steve as Coe's new director of athletics & recreation. His substantial career at Coe and insight as assistant athletic director made him the perfect choice to take our athletic department to new heights," President McInally said. "Steve is prepared to lead Kohawk athletics with the same passion and tenacity with which he has led the baseball team the last 23 seasons."
Cook has seen the college and athletic department evolve over the past two-plus decades. He references his vast experiences at Coe as an important part of his preparation for the transition into this role. "Throughout my tenure here at Coe I have had the opportunity to professionally grow while assisting our department as it has also grown over time," he said. "With the vision and commitment of the current coaches and staff, I believe we can continue to accomplish great things with our student-athletes, alumni and the college community as a whole."
As the director of athletics & recreation, Steve will be in charge of progressing an already evolving athletic department that features 25 varsity sports, five competitive sports clubs and eight active clubs. He will help lead Coe athletics through new-sport transitions with women's triathlon, co-ed clay target, women's bowling and men's volleyball which were introduced this past fall.
"I am confident we can build off the past success of Kohawk athletics while furthering our efforts to bring a variety of opportunities to potential student-athletes at Coe," said Cook. "Coe College athletics will continue to be a place where student-athletes have the opportunity and expectation for success on their teams, in the classroom and within the campus community."
Cook, who arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1996 to take an assistant coaching position spent three years playing in the minor leagues after his hall of fame collegiate career at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. During his stint in the minors, Steve had a stop with the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he helped lead the team to a Midwest League Championship in 1994. He has racked up numerous achievements and milestones during his head coaching career at Coe, eclipsing 500 career wins, coaching seven All-Americans and eight Academic All-Americans while leading the Kohawks to five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Steve and his wife Shannon, a 2002 Coe College graduate, have six daughters, Callie, Shelby, Lilly, Maggie, Lucy and Elsie. "My family and I are very excited," said Steve. "Thank you to President McInally, senior staff and other members of the college who so strongly supported my interest in this position. We can't thank Coe enough for the experiences we have had over the years and the opportunities that lie ahead in the future."
