HEAD COACH - JILL COOK

Jill Cook begins her seventh year as Head Swim Coach and Natatorium Director.
     A year ago, Cook enjoyed the program’s most successful campaign at it went 10-1 in dual meet action.
     In her first six seasons, 35 records have been set, including 16 new marks set in 2004-05.
     This year’s team is the most talented since the inception of the program. With nine returnees from a year ago, the addition of five rookies helps to increase the versatility of the team.
     “With our great mix of veterans and freshmen, we have a tremendous amount of promise to succeed in both our dual meets and the championship formats,” stated Cook. “We are looking to make a strong standing at both the Little East Conference meet and the New England Championships.”
     In the short time that WestConn has competed in diving, the program has quickly become successful throughout New England.
     The team has earned the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Academic Team All-American honors by earning an overall GPA of 2.80 or higher for 11 consecutive semesters.
     During Cook’s tenure, 32 swimmers have made the Dean’s List and two members have been awarded the coveted WCSU Student Athlete Advisory Committee Scholar Athlete Award.
     In 2004-05, seven WestConn swimmers were named to the Little East Conference All-Star Team. It marked the first time in program history that a Colonial was named to the All-LEC Team.
     Last season, WestConn finished in the Top 10 with 332 points at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships. It improved six team places and 209 points from the 2004 Championships. It also had an individual place in the Top 6 for the first time ever a year ago.
     She came to Danbury, Conn. following two years as an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State University where she earned a Master’s of Science degree in Exercise Science in May of 1999.
     While at the New Britain, Conn. school she trained a 1999 NCAA Division I Qualifier, an All-American in the 200 freestyle, an ECAC Swimmer of the Meet. Prior to her appointment at WCSU, Cook was an Assistant Head Counselor for the Wolverine Swim Camp in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
     Cook earned a bachelor of science degree in Sports Management from Springfield College in 1996.
     She was a three-time All-Conference swimmer for The Pride from 1992 to 1995.
     In 1998, she was a USMS Long-Distance All-American, won the Outstanding Coach Award for Bristol Sprinters, and published two articles in The Bulletin: Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
     From 2002-04, Cook has worked with a USA Swimming Team, Ridgefield Aquatics. As interim Head Senior Coachin 2004, she led the team to its most successful Long Course season with seven Sectional qualifiers. In addition, one swimmer was named to the All-Connecticut long Course Team.