Cook leaves Stanislaus to take golf job at Pacific

John Cook was handed a daunting task seven years ago – to succeed the iconic Jim Hanny as the head golf coach at Cal State Stanislaus.

Cook was more than up to the task. His reward is a new job, a Division I assignment just down the road.

He has been hired as the new golf coach at University of the Pacific where, in a juicy bit of irony, Hanny received his diploma in 1949. Cook will succeed Chris Hill, who coached the Tigers for one season.

“My world has turned upside down,” said Cook, who was contacted by Pacific officials last week. “I talked to Doris (Hanny’s widow), and she’s excited about my going to Pacific. It was a tough decision. The support I’ve had at Stanislaus and in the community was awesome. I wasn’t looking for a new position. It just kind of happened. ... I could not be more excited to lead the Pacific golf program.”

Cook, who played golf for Stanislaus in the early 1990s, guided the Warriors to back-to-back California Collegiate Athletic Association championships the last two seasons. His teams advanced to the NCAA Division II Regionals all seven seasons under his watch, including four appearances at the NCAA Championships. The Warriors reached the semifinals in 2012.

He was named the CCAA Coach of the Year four times, including this year. The program produced nine All-Americans, a CCAA individual champion in Trevor Clayton and two CCAA most valuable players (Clayton and Rob Damschen) during his tenure.

Cook’s teams finished in the top 15 in the NCAA Championships four times, including the semifinal appearance and a sixth place in 2009.

“John has been a very accomplished head coach at Stanislaus, and we are thrilled to have someone with his experience lead our program,” UOP Director of Athletics Ted Leland said. “John has also experienced the world of golf from virtually every aspect, as a student-athlete and then a coach in college at both the Division I and II levels, as well as a professional player touring, and he’s done so locally. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome him to the Pacific family.”

Cook, a native of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was named the assistant coach at Boise State after his time as a player at Stanislaus. He took over the program as head coach for one year. He also competed on the mini-tours and worked as an instructor at the John Jacobs Golf School at Stevinson Ranch.

What no doubt impressed Pacific was Cook’s success after Hanny, who guided Stanislaus to 12 NCAA Division III titles. Cook sustained the Warriors’ talent level and kept them as major contenders in Division II.

Michael Matoso, Stanislaus’ director of athletics, said the school will begin a national search immediately for Cook’s successor. The time frame will be accelerated because the Warriors compete in tournaments this fall. Matoso said he will receive input from Stanislaus’ passionate golf alums, who follow the program closely. He hopes to have a new coach by July 10.

“I think it’s a compliment to our program what John has accomplished here and the opportunity he has now,” Matoso said. “It’s even more impressive what he’s done, given the man he followed.”

Cook recognizes Pacific’s respected golf tradition – Atwater product and former PGA Tour pro Matt Hansen played for UOP – and is eager to make his contribution.

“There was a lot of pressure to win there (at Stanislaus),” Cook said. “We found a way to keep it going.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Cook leaves Stanislaus to take golf job at Pacific."