Westmont College Athletics

Patti Cook took the reigns as head coach mid-season in 2011 for Westmont College Volleyball where she posted a record of 8-10. In the 2012 season, the Warriors went 25-10 and made their first appearance at the NAIA National Tournament since 2002. The 2013 campaign saw the Warriors post a record of 22-11 and make a return to nationals. In 2014, Westmont went 18-14 and in 2015 improved to 20-7 but came up shy in their bid for a national championship berth.

In 2016, Westmont Volleyball reached new heights by going undefeated in the regular season (31-0), winning the Golden State Athletic Conference for first time since 1993, and earning a number one ranking for the first time in program history. At the NAIA National Championship, the Warriors reached the quarterfinals before falling to Park University (Mo.). Cook was honored as Golden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year as well as the West Region American Volleyball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. She was also named Santa Barbara Athletic Roundtable Collegiate Coach of the Year.

In 2017, Cook's team recorded a record of 36-4 (.900). For the second straight year, Westmont remained unbeaten in conference play to extend its GSAC winning streak to 30 games. Westmont also won the inaugural GSAC Volleyball Tournament by defeating Vanguard in five sets. Cook was named the GSAC Co-Coach of the Year. The Warriors returned to the NAIA National Championship, and once again reached the quarterfinals.

In her final season in 2018, Cook's Warriors went 27-7 (.794) and advanced to the NAIA National Championship for the third straight year and fifth time in her tenure, before losing in the round of 16.

“My first goal is to prepare the women on the team for life outside of college and I think athletics is the way to get that done,” said Cook of her focus as head coach.

As a player, Cook, was a three-time NAIA All-American who graduated from Westmont in 2004. Cook led the Warriors to the NAIA National Championships in 2001and 2002 with the Warriors reaching the quarterfinals during the 2002 season. Cook is the all-time career kill record holder at Westmont, having amassed 2,079 during her four years (4.58 per game). She also holds the top three spots for most kills in a single season, having tallied 609 in 2002, 573 in 2003 and 546 in 2001.
 
“This program represents personal and spiritual growth,” said Cook regarding the impact Westmont volleyball had on her life as a student-athlete. “It helped me to become the woman and the mother that I am today. It helped me to learn to overcome obstacles, to persevere and to glorify God through the game of volleyball.”

After her graduation, Cook served as the Warriors' assistant coach for eight years where she learned the ropes of recruiting and budgeting. She also played professional beach volleyball, including three years fulltime on the AVP Tour.

“Playing beach volleyball taught me a level of professionalism that I didn’t have as a collegiate player. The long travel and playing against other amazing women taught me how to compete against high-caliber athletes. I share my experience by helping the volleyball athletes at Westmont be physically and mentally fit to compete day in and day out in a competitive NAIA environment.”

In May of 2013, Cook went back to playing indoor volleyball and competed as part of the Green Star Coffee Shots women’s volleyball team that won first place in the 2013 USA Volleyball Open Championship in Women’s A Gold Division. Cook was named the tournament MVP. A year later, Cook competed in the Women’s AA Gold Division at the USA Volleyball Open Championships where her team of Green Star Coffee Shots took second place. Cook was awarded All-Tournament team honors. In 2018, she competed in the Women’s A division with assistant coach Ruth McGolpin, alumna Taylor Beckman(’18), and a handful of other players with ties to Westmont College and won the tournament going 10-0. Once again, Cook was named to the All-Tournament team.

Patti and her husband, Matt, live in Santa Barbara along with their daughter Rylie (10), son Brody (7), and daughter Emry (2).