Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman has announced that Kevin Cook, a veteran collegiate and WNBA coach for more than two decades, has been named the new Winthrop women’s basketball head coach replacing Marlene Stollings who left after one year to accept the head coaching position at VCU.

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. In July, 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).

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, Cooke 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.

In the four seasons prior to his arrival at Winthrop, Cook served as the head coach of Gallaudet University, 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. In addition he’s 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.