Huskers Name Ann Cook Assistant Coach

Lincoln - The Nebraska soccer program announced the hiring of Ann Cook as an assistant coach on Monday.

Cook, who was an assistant at Southwest Missouri State last season, replaces Megan Skinner on the NU staff.

Skinner left NU to join her husband Craig at the University of Kentucky, where Craig was recently named the head volleyball coach.

Although sorry to lose Skinner, Husker head coach John Walker is confident that Cook will be a perfect fit at Nebraska.

"Ann Cook has the highest playing background, has been a Division I head coach and has been highly recommended by everyone we have spoken to in college and professional soccer," Walker said. "She is bright, articulate and personal and possesses excellent communication skills.

"Lastly, she is very passionate about coaching soccer and helping this program advance. Her interview was excellent and her hiring begins a new era for our program."

The hiring of Cook brings changes to the Husker coaching staff for the first time in 10 years. Walker is the only head coach in the 11-year history of the Nebraska soccer program, and assistant coach Marty Everding has also been with the Huskers for 11 years. Skinner was with Nebraska for 10 seasons.

Cook has four years of coaching experience, including three at the Division I level. A native of Springfield, Mo., Cook is excited for the challenge of coaching at one of the top programs in the nation.

"This is a great opportunity to work for a program of this caliber," Cook said. "To coach players that are so highly motivated and driven to win a national championship is really exciting to me. Overall, the whole program’s goal is nothing short of a national championship."

Cook comes to Nebraska after serving as an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State last season, where she was in her first season with the Bears, who finished 9-4-4. Before accepting the job at SMS, Cook served as an assistant coach for Springfield Glendale High in 2003-04. Prior to her stint at Glendale, Cook served as head coach at Drury University in 1999 and 2000, where she compiled a 13-24-1 career record. While at Drury, she led a team that was ranked fifth among first-year NCAA Division I soccer programs in 1999. Cook has also been the director of the Ann Cook Soccer Camps and Clinics since 2002.

Cook played professionally in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) from 2001 to 2003, playing for the Bay Area CyberRays and Washington Freedom. She helped lead Bay Area to the WUSA title in 2001 and Washington to a league runner-up finish in 2002. Prior to entering the WUSA, Cook played semipro soccer from 1998 to 2000 for the Chicago Cobras.

A 1997 graduate of William and Mary, Cook was a three-time All-American, while serving as team captain for two seasons. Cook was the Colonial Athletic Association Player of Year and tournament MVP in 1997 and was a finalist for the MAC Award and the Hermann Trophy in 1995 and 1997.

Cook also has experience on the international level, as she was a member the U.S. National Under-20 team from 1994 to 1998.

Previous Coaching Experience

• Assistant Coach ? Southwest Missouri State, 2004
• Assistant Coach ? Springfield Glendale High, 2003-04
• Head Coach ? Drury University, 1999-2000

Playing Experience

• WUSA ? Bay Area CyberRays, Washington Freedom, 2001-03
• Semipro ? Chicago Cobras, 1998-2000
• U.S. Under-20 National Team member, 1994-98
• William and Mary, 1993-1997