May 25, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former University of Kentucky wide receiver Tommy Cook, who has spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant for the Wildcats, has accepted the position of assistant director of football operations, UK head coach Joker Phillips announced Friday.
Cook’s duties will include assisting Phillips, along with the director of football operations Nolan Jones, in the day-to-day internal and external operations of the football program.
“We are excited to have Tommy remain with us in this role,” Phillips said. “Tommy has spent a lot of time with this program as a player and graduate assistant and having someone already tied into our program in that position will be vital to our staff.”
On top of serving as a graduate assistant coach the past two seasons, Cook was a wide receiver with the Wildcats from 2000-05, including a sixth year to complete his eligibility because of medical hardships. Cook’s career totals included 74 catches for 951 yards and six touchdowns. In 2004, he assisted Phillips, who was an assistant coach for wide receivers, while recovering from injuries.
During his playing career, the native of Victoria, Texas, earned a place on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll, was named to the UK Athletics Society of Character and was chosen for the ESPN “All-Mayday Team” in honor of players who show extraordinary toughness and determination.
Having earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2004 from UK, Cook is currently working on a master’s degree in sport leadership. Prior to joining UK’s staff in 2010, Cook spent four and one-half years in the business sector in surgical sales.
“I am really thankful to Coach Phillips for my playing days and now for the opportunity to continue on his staff,” Cook said. “I feel very blessed to be able to help my alma mater in any way possible, from helping the players grow as men to helping Nolan Jones handle the day-to-day responsibilities of running an SEC program. I can’t thank Coach Phillips enough for giving me this opportunity. There is no place I’d rather be than here at Kentucky, working in the best conference in college football.”
For more information on the Kentucky football team, follow “UKFootball” on Twitter or visit UKathletics.com.
