SAN ANTONIO — UTSA Athletics Director Lynn Hickey announced Thursday that head softball coach Lori Cook will resign her post effective immediately to pursue other career opportunities.
"I want to thank Coach Cook for all she has done with the softball program in her time here," Hickey said. “We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
In her five seasons as the third head coach in school history, Cook posted a 141-128 record, including a 93-53 mark in Southland Conference play. Under her direction, the Roadrunners captured one Southland regular season and one tournament crown and made one NCAA Tournament appearance.
"This was a difficult decision for me, because UTSA has been like a family to me for the past 10 years," Cook said. “I would like to thank Dr. Romo, Lynn Hickey and the rest of the athletic department staff for their support of the softball program during my time as an assistant coach and as head coach. I wish the program and the department the best of luck this season and in the future.”
Cook came to UTSA as a volunteer assistant coach in 2001 and helped transform the Roadrunners into a power-hitting force. Since then, the Roadrunners have led the nation in home runs per game four times and slugging percentage three times.
In 2006, the squad crushed a school-record 105 home runs while the 2004 team's .582 slugging percentage is a Southland record.
The 2006 Southland Coach of the Year, Cook's players have garnered 26 all-conference selections, highlighted by Freshman of the Year Brittany Cantu and Utility Player of the Year Amanda Horton in 2006, and three all-region selections.
In addition to success on the field, the Roadrunners showed progress in the classroom, as well, with five Southland All-Academic selections. In 2007, Jessica Rogers picked up her second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America nod and was a three-time first-team academic all-district pick. Rogers was twice named Southland Softball Student-Athlete of the Year and UTSA Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Assistant coach Stephanie Hughes will serve as interim head coach and a national search for a head coach will begin at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
