Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Jason Munsch added Mike Cook to the Highlanders’ coaching staff as an assistant coach in August 2024. Cook will develop and lead the men’s and women’s distance groups at NJIT. He enters his 12th year of coaching, with experience at the club, high school, college, professional, and masters levels from the 400m to the marathon. Cook now enters his second year leading the NJIT distance program.
In his first year coaching the Highlanders' men's and women's distance programs, Cook guided NJIT distance athletes to 11 school records and 33 top-5 all-time marks during the indoor and outdoor seasons. Additionally, 100% of Cook's athletes posted personal-best times during his first year.
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Cook joins NJIT after spending one track and field season at the University of Northern Colorado as the Volunteer Assistant Distance Coach. He assisted the Bears in achieving 11 all-time top-10 indoor marks in school history, 12 all-time top-10 outdoor marks in school history, the women’s DMR school record, and men’s 1,500m school record.
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Before arriving in Greeley, Cook was a Volunteer Assistant Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Wake Forest. In track and field, he assisted in coaching an NCAA East Preliminary qualifier in the 5,000m and helped secure four all-time top 10 outdoor marks in school history. Cook also contributed to recruiting the No. 10 freshman women’s class in the nation for 2023-2024, according to Stride Report.
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Cook has also coached at the national level in three countries outside the United States. In Australia, Cook coached nine national top-10 finishes, including two medalists, and 14 medalists at the state level. He also coached in New Zealand and mentored a National U20 800m Champion in Costa Rica, who went on to win silver at NACAC’s U20 800m. The athlete then repeated his U20 title and earned silver in the open national 800m before Cook guided him to the Central American U20 Gold 800m and Silver 1500m.
Cook holds a USATF Level 2 Certification in Endurance.
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Cook’s favorite events to coach are the 3,000m steeplechase and cross country. In his free time, Cook is an avid Liverpool fan and traveler.
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