Regional Director

Cook came to Abilene Christian University (ACU) in August of 2006 from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. Cook graduated from McMurry with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies and helped coached three Indians to All-American honors, including two National Titles in men’s shot put. He married Melinda Renee Cook on June 21, 2003 and they have two children - Katelyn, four, and Carter, three. Melinda teaches fifth grade science at Merkel Middle School. 

Cook is also currently employed by the ACU Athletic Department where he serves as an Assistant Track and Field Coach.  He coaches the throws and multi events for the wildcat’s track & field team. Cook has continued to have tremendous success, coaching Nick Jones to an unprecedented four National titles in the discus, one national title in the indoor shot put, and five additional All-American honors in the shot put, including two runner-up finishes at the outdoor national meet. In 2011 Nick Jones was crowned ACU's Male Athlete of the Year. Jones also competed in his first Olympic Trials in both the shot put and discus in 2012. He was a finalist in the discus and the top collegiate finisher in the discus at the Trials. During the same year, Nick broke the ACU school record in shot put with a throw of 64'-02". 

Cook coached Linda Brivule to be the most decorated and most successful female javelin thrower in NCAA Division II history. Brivule won three consecutive national titles in the women’s javelin, which has never been accomplished by any other female javelin thrower in history. Brivule also holds the NCAA Division II javelin record at 184’-6”, and also holds the NCAA Division II Meet record. Cook also coached Baptiste Kerjean to a third place finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, earning him All-American status and achieving a new ACU school record of 210'-09".

In 2009, his discus thrower, Paige Newby, became the newly crowned NCAA Division II National Champion in the discus. In the previous year, Newby finished fourth at the Outdoor National Championship, earning All-American status. Tyler Fleet finished fifth in the discus throw and Jessica Sloss finished eighth in the hammer throw at the Outdoor National Meet, both earning All-American honors. 

Cook has also found success coaching the multi events, helping coach Camille Vandendriessche to three national titles in the decathlon and one national title in the indoor heptathlon, and Jessica Withrow to one national title and two runner-up placements in the heptathlon at the National meet. In 2011, he coached Parker Petty to his first All-American finish at the Indoor National Championship. Throughout his coaching career, Cook has coached thirty-seven All-Americans, including ten national champions in the throwing events and five national champions in the multi events.