Ashley Cook was hired as ETSU's assistant softball coach in September of 2023.
Cook comes to ETSU with over 10 years of coaching experience most recently serving as head coach at Coppin State. Prior to Coppin State, Cook was the head coach at Juniata College, a Division III program in Huntingdon, Pa., coached one year at Division III Pine Manor College and spent five years at Bowie State, her alma mater from 2013-17.
Cook was named the head coach at Coppin State in October 2019 and has spent the last four seasons leading the Eagles program. This past season, Coppin State doubled its win total from the previous year, while also winning the most games since 2013. The Eagles made a run to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in 2023, marking their first-ever MEAC Championship game appearance. In addition, Coppin State won four tournament games last season under Cook's watch, resulting in the most wins in program history in the MEAC Tournament. With all of the success, Cook coached the youngest team in the nation as Coppin State's roster featured 12 freshmen in 2023.
Prior to Coppin State, Cook spent the 2019 season as the head coach at Juniata College. In her lone season at the helm, Juniata increased its win total by four games and saw a pair of players earn All-Landmark Conference accolades with one also receiving All-Region recognition. The offense really came to fruition as the team's batting average increased by over thirty points and the Eagles' home runs doubled.
In 2018, Cook was the head coach at Pine Manor College where she also served as the school's Assistant Athletic Director, Co-Sports Information Director and Senior Woman's Administrator.
A native of Port Republic, Md., Cook's first head coaching job came at her alma mater, Bowie State University. In her five seasons coaching the Bulldogs, Bowie State won 56 games and Cook was named the 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a share of the Northern Division Championship and a CIAA Championship Game appearance. Cook led Bowie State to three straight winning seasons in conference play from 2015-17, including a 14-2 mark in 2017.
Cook played two seasons at Bowie State where she was one of the nation's best hitters, collecting a .400 career batting average with 11 home runs and 77 RBI while leading the Bulldogs to a pair of CIAA Championships. In 2009, Cook hit .443 with nine home runs and 46 RBI.
Graduating with a Bachelor's of Science in Fine Arts, Cook is working on her Master's of Coaching and Athletic Administration degree from University of California, Irvine. Cook enjoys spending her free time with her partner Rachel and their dogs Frances and Millie.
