Growing up around the sport of soccer, Ryan Cook had visions of ultimately being a head coach in the sport. Little did the 2012 Durant High School graduate know that would come at his alma mater. Cook was recently named the new head girls soccer coach for the Lady Lions after serving as assistant over the past four seasons under Katie Williams, who resigned to take a position in Denison.
It will definitely be familiar territory on the pitch for Cook who played for boys head coach John Wilmoth before graduating and then playing a collegiate season at Rogers State University. He eventually obtained his degree at Southeastern and has been a teacher and assistant coach for the girls program at Durant over the past four years.
“I had hoped to be a head coach one day and this just happened to be the right place at the right time,” said Cook, who should thrive off previously being in the same shoes as the current DHS players. “I try to build connections and strong relationships with my players.”
During his time as assistant the Lady Lions finished fifth in district play three times while just missing the playoffs before getting over that hump this past season when they reached the Class 5A state playoffs, falling to Claremore in round one.
Cook will return a familiar core of players, however, and will make a few changes to put his stamp on the program. The objectives will remain the same though.
“It will definitely be a learning experience, taking over the head coaching role,” he said. “Most of the girls though have had me as a teacher and coach for several years so they know my expectations. We are going to continue to improve and push ourselves to be better than we have been.
“There’s going to be a lot of experience in our junior and senior classes that have been part of the program which will aid in my transition. Our core group is there, and I am going to rely on them to lead the way for us as we build onto last year’s playoff campaign.”
