Westmont athletic director Dave Odell has announced that Patti Cook has been named the Westmont Volleyball Head Coach, effective immediately. Cook, a three-time NAIA All-American, graduated from Westmont in 2004.
Cook replaces Jim Smoot, who coached at Westmont for 13 years.
A statement from Westmont’s sports information office said Smoot “is no longer an employee of Westmont College. Beyond that, (the sports information office) is not at liberty to say (what happened) as the college cannot comment publicly on personnel matters.”
As a player, Cook led the Warriors to the NAIA National Championships in 2001 and 2002 with the Warriors reaching the quarterfinals during the 2002 season. Cook is the all-time career kill record holder at Westmont, having amassed 2,079 during her four years (4.58 per game). She also holds the top three places for most kills in a single season, having tallied 609 in 2002, 573 in 2003 and 546 in 2001.
“This program represents personal and spiritual growth,” said Cook regarding the impact Westmont volleyball had on her life as a student-athlete. “It helped me to become the woman that I am and the mother that I am today. It helped me to learn to overcome obstacles, to persevere and to glorify God through the game of volleyball.”
Since graduation, Cook has served as an assistant coach for the Warriors and has played professional beach volleyball, including three years fulltime on the now defunct AVP Tour.
“Playing beach volleyball taught me a level of professionalism that I didn’t have as a collegiate player. I simply didn’t know how to make it my job to be in shape to compete in the professional tournaments,” said Cook. “I think I can share my experience by helping the players be physically fit as well as mentally fit to compete.
“My first goal is to prepare the women on the team for life outside of college and I think athletics is way that can be done,” said Cook of her focus as head coach. “I do hate to lose and we are definitely going to strive to be a competitive program. Of course, I would love to make the national tournament.”
Cook’s first game at the helm of the Warrior program will come in Tuesday’s home opener against California Lutheran University. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
