Princeton Athletics has announced the promotion of Jenn Cook to women’s lacrosse head coach as announced by Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack ‘00 to the team in a meeting this afternoon.
Cook, who has coached at Princeton for the previous 10 years – including the last five as Associate Head Coach – succeeds Chris Sailer who retired after a 36-year Hall of Fame career as head coach of the Tigers. She is the fourth head coach in program history, following in the footsteps of Penny Hinckley (1973-77), Betty Logan (1978-86) and Sailer (1987-2022).
“I am ecstatic that Jenn Cook will be our next head coach of women’s lacrosse,” said Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack '00. “She is an exceptional coach, and an even better person. Jenn has been an integral part of our program’s success over the last decade, and I cannot think of anyone better to take over for Coach Sailer. With Jenn at the helm, the sky is the limit for our program.”
Cook has been part of the continuation of Princeton’s storied success in women’s lacrosse since arriving on campus in 2013. She has been part of seven Ivy League regular season championships and helped Princeton win five Ivy League Tournaments. The Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament in all eight possible seasons during Cook’s tenure, reaching the quarterfinals three times and winning at least one game in six of eight trips to the national tournament.
“I am honored and extremely grateful to be named head coach of women’s lacrosse at Princeton University,” said Cook. “I am thankful to John Mack, Allison Rich, Anthony Archbald and the search committee for sharing in my vision for leading this program into the future. It is a special opportunity to represent such a prestigious university and incredible lacrosse program. Princeton truly is an extraordinary place, and I am excited to continue my journey here. I look forward to working alongside our phenomenal student-athletes, staff, administrators, and alumni to build upon the rich tradition and legacy of Princeton Women’s Lacrosse.
I also would like to thank my mentors Chris Sailer and Jenny Levy for their endless support and guidance. Chris and Jenny spent countless years preparing me for this next step in my coaching career and for that I will always be grateful. Go Tigers!”
After the 2020 and 2021 seasons were impacted by COVID-19, Princeton returned to action -- and picked up right where it left off -- in 2022. Cook and the Tigers won a seventh consecutive Ivy League regular season title with an undefeated 7-0 Ivy run that included a 17-14 win over Yale in a battle of Ivy unbeatens on the final day of the regular season. One week later, the Tigers again defeated the Bulldogs at Class of 1952 Stadium -- this time by a score of 19-9 -- to win a fourth consecutive Ivy League Tournament. The Tigers would finish the season 15-4 and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament following a 15-9 win over UMass at home to open NCAAs.
“I am absolutely thrilled that Jenn Cook will become the fourth head coach of women’s lacrosse at Princeton,” said Chris Sailer. “It has been my honor and privilege to work side by side with Jenn over the past 10 years. She has made me a better coach in so many ways, and I am so grateful for her friendship, her loyalty and her commitment to our program and players. During her time with the Tigers, Jenn has helped build and transform our team culture along these themes that we affectionately refer to as ‘Jennisms’: we are the work we do; honesty is love; greatness is a constant ascention; and fail at 100%. Jenn is an incredible on-field coach. She loves talking X’s and O’s, teaching techniques and systems, developing game plans and making in-game adjustments that give our team the edge. But what makes her really special is how much she cares about her players and the overall team experience. From the moment she came to Princeton, Jenn has modeled character, work ethic, and leadership each and every day. Our players trust Jenn, believe in Jenn and love playing for Jenn as much as I have loved coaching with her. I wish her all the success in the world as she takes over the Princeton Women’s Lacrosse program.”
Princeton’s overall record with Cook on staff is 111-44 (.716) since 2013, and the Tigers have won 10+ games in all eight full seasons contested while Cook has patrolled the sidelines. Inside the Ivy League, Cook has helped Princeton to a 56-6 (.903) record, never losing more than one Ivy game in a season.
During Cook’s 10 years on staff, she has helped coach 12 IWLCA All-Americans, 27 All-Region selections and 50 All-Ivy honorees.
In 2019, Cook was named the IWLCA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year. She currently serves as co-chair of the IWLCA’s Mentorship Committee.
Before coming to Princeton, Cook spent four seasons (2009-12) as an assistant at her alma mater, North Carolina. She coached all aspects of defense and draw work, responsible for team compliance, fundraising and budget, in addition to recruiting, video and practice and game day prep. Cook helped recruit and coach the 2009 national goalie of the year and national defender of the year, in addition to having a player named a 2010 Tewaaraton finalist. In her final season, 2012, Cook's defense ranked third nationally in goals allowed per game.
Prior to re-joining the Tar Heels, Cook was an assistant coach at Drexel during the 2007-08 academic year, charged with coaching the defense.
A two-time Tewaaraton nominee, Cook was a three-time IWLCA All-American, including a pair of first-team honors. She was also named first-team All-American by Inside Lacrosse on three occasions. Cooks was named first-team All-Region and All-ACC three times each. A two-time team MVP, Cook was named the 2007 Inside Lacrosse Defender of the Year and graduated with the Tar Heels' career records in ground balls (200) and games played (76), as well as draw controls in a season (51). During her career, Cook and the Tar Heels made three NCAA quarterfinal tournament appearances and was ranked in the Top 12 all four years, including Top-Five spots her junior and senior years.
A native of Broomall, Pa., Cook graduated from UNC in 2007 with a degree in exercise sports science with an emphasis in sports administration. Cook earned a masters in Sport Management from Drexel University in 2016, graduating with honors.
Jenn resides in Hopewell, N.J. with her wife, Danielle, and one-year old daughter, Cameron.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
“Jenn Cook is a talented and incredibly passionate coach who excels in player development and creating a great team environment where student-athletes can thrive both on and off the field. After spending the past 10 years learning from Chris Sailer, she is prepared to take the reins of the historic Princeton lacrosse program. Jenn is no stranger to Princeton’s longstanding traditions of success and a passionate alumni base. She will continue to elicit their support as she guides the program into a new era. As a student-athlete and an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina, Jenn had a relentless work ethic, high moral compass and competitive spirit. Her passion and love of the game made her an All-American in college, and that same love and passion for lacrosse have enabled her to become a impactful and transformational mentor for countless young women at Drexel University, the University of North Carolina and Princeton.” – Jenny Levy, North Carolina Head Coach
“I am thrilled for Jenn, her family, and for Princeton Lacrosse. Jenn has already made a significant impact on this program, helping Chris to build championship women on and off the field. She has a great tactical mind, she is a fantastic teacher, and she embraces the kind of whole person development that Chris has embodied in her tenure. I am especially happy that the current players and our alumni group will continue to see familiar faces on the sideline next year and beyond!” – Theresa Sherry ‘04, Princeton Women’s Lacrosse Alumna & Founder of Tenacity Lacrosse.
“Jenn Cook is an outstanding hire for Princeton – Jenn is a coach and person of high character and loyalty. She cares deeply about her athletes’ success both on and off the field and is a true competitor when it comes to preparing her teams and recruiting. Jenn has been fully committed and loyal to Princeton for the last 10-plus years under former head coach Chris Sailer, and I can’t wait to see her make her mark as a head coach. She is a trusted friend and former teammate - I look forward to watching her success in the Ivy League as well as on the national level.” – Amanda Barnes Moore; East Carolina Head Coach & Teammates With Jenn Cook at North Carolina
“I share in the extreme excitement with all, to congratulate Jenn Cook as the next Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach of Princeton University. I have had the privilege to play with, be coached by, and coach alongside Jenn - lucky me! Jenn has been a role model of mine since my freshman year at Carolina. As a senior, she took me under her wing to teach me the Carolina Way. Jenn led our team with strength, passion, and care to bring the best of herself to every drill, lift, and game while empowering her teammates to do the same. As a teammate and coach, she taught us how to compete no matter how mundane something may feel, that a 50/50 ball was really about life or death, that we are only guaranteed four years to play this sport and we owe it to our team and ourselves to leave no stone unturned. Her passion for her team bleeds even deeper as a coach. You feel her impact daily. Jenn spends time getting to know you off the field, to be able to coach you better on the field. Princeton gained a person who not only cares about her players but also holds them to a high standard of excellence. Jenn, I am grateful for all the life lessons you taught me. I cannot wait to see how the future of Princeton lacrosse unfolds with you at the helm.” – Kristen Carr, Johns Hopkins Assistant Coach & Former Teammate and Coach With Jenn Cook at North Carolina