Jack Wallace Cook (July 27, 1926 – November 24, 2021) was an American baseball coach and player, serving two stints as head coach for the Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team 1955 and 1967–1989. In 1994, Cook was inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame for his career as a coach and player.[1]

Jack Cook
Biographical details
Born(1926-07-27)July 27, 1926
Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedNovember 24, 2021(2021-11-24) (aged 95)
Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
Alma materMarshall University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1955Marshall
1967–1989Marshall
Head coaching record
Overall422–344–3
TournamentsNCAA: 2–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • SoCon regular season (1978, 1981)
Awards

During his time at Marshall, he led the Thundering Herd to their first NCAA tournament in 1973.[2] Cook would led Marshall to the NCAA tournament again in 1978 whilst winning SoCon Coach of the Year.[3] Prior to his second stint at Marshall, Cook was the head baseball coach at Huntington High School in West Virginia.[4]

In 2023, it was announced that Marshall's new baseball stadium will be named Jack Cook Field in his honor.[5]

Head coaching record

edit
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Marshall Thundering Herd (Mid-American Conference) (1955)
1955 Marshall 2–11 1–6 8th
Marshall Thundering Herd (Mid-American Conference) (1967–1969)
1967 Marshall 11–12 4–5 4th
1968 Marshall 18–7 5–4 3rd
1969 Marshall 14–12–1 7–7 3rd
Marshall Thundering Herd (Independent) (1970–1976)
1970 Marshall 14–12
1971 Marshall 16–19
1972 Marshall 14–11
1973 Marshall 18–10 NCAA Regional
1974 Marshall 21–15
1975 Marshall 24–10
1976 Marshall 18–13
Marshall Thundering Herd (Southern Conference) (1977–1989)
1977 Marshall 20–21 8–8 4th
1978 Marshall 27–13 11–1 1st NCAA Regional
1979 Marshall 23–15–1 10–6 4th
1980 Marshall 17–11 10–3 2nd
1981 Marshall 22–17 12–4 T–1st
1982 Marshall 17–21 8–8 T–4th
1983 Marshall 19–14 7–7 T–4th
1984 Marshall 11–16 5–8 3rd (North)
1985 Marshall 26–18–1 10–8 2nd (North)
1986 Marshall 15–18 4–13 4th (North)
1987 Marshall 16–17 5–7 3rd (North)
1988 Marshall 23–17 7–9 3rd (North)
1989 Marshall 16–14 8–5 2nd
Marshall: 422–344–3 122–109
Total: 422–344–3

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

edit
  1. ^ "Jack Cook (1994)". Herdzone.com. Herdzone. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Cook Says 'Herd Ready' For First NCAA Tourney". The Raleigh Register. May 29, 1973. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "League Honors Cook". The State. May 20, 1978. p. 21. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Huntington High Coach Takes Marshall Post". The Raleigh Register. April 28, 1966. p. 25. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Morehouse, Keith (June 21, 2023). "Marshall to name baseball facility after Jack Cook". WSAZ-TV. Retrieved October 21, 2023.