Jan. 26, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Jen Heisel, GoPSUsports.com Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's soccer coach Erica Walsh and associate head coach Ann Cook have made the most of their outstanding credentials and 20-year friendship, orchestrating one of the most successful soccer programs in the nation since they took the reins in 2007.
Their partnership started on the Williamsburg, Va., campus of William & Mary, where the duo broke into the Tribe as bright-eyed freshmen in 1993. Walsh and Cook helped lead William & Mary to four NCAA Tournament appearances and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championships. Walsh was an All-American, two-time first team All-CAA pick and team captain. Cook earned three All-American nods and twice finished as a Hermann Trophy finalist.
So when Walsh was offered the helm of the Nittany Lion program, her first thought was the six-year professional soccer veteran who boasted U.S. Women's National Team experience. After retiring from professional soccer in 2003, Cook, a Springfield, Mo., native, made stops on the coaching staffs at Drury University, Missouri State and Nebraska.
"I had been trying to get her on my staff for years," said Walsh. "It can be nerve-wracking, coaching with a friend. But I thought our philosophy was aligned so closely. We were going to go through the good and bad together."
"The number one word I use for hiring is trust and there's no one I trust more than Ann."
That trust has propagated a Penn State program that, in 2014, won its 16th conference title in 17 seasons, a record unmatched by any Division I program, and is the fourth-winningest program in the 21st century. The program's success under Walsh and Cook's tutelage, coupled with her outstanding career on the pitch, resulted in a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction on Jan. 25.
"Anyone around Ann and I recognizes quickly how special our relationship is because it's built off of trust and enjoyment," said Walsh. "She enriches my life for sure on and off the field but we genuinely enjoy being around one another."
"Ann and I have an incredible mutual respect for one another," she said. "We provide accountability for one another, are willing to challenge each other and support one another when a decision is made. A big part of [our success] is her knowledge, ability, and relationship with the players. They are so inspired by her. Because she's such an educator, everyone that meets walks away with a great feeling."
The tangible enjoyment one can feel by watching the pair interact results in the family atmosphere, which permeates every aspect of the program. Before every home game, the team rides the recognizable Penn State blue bus to Jeffrey Field, loudly singing songs passed down from those who wore the Blue and White before them. Dogs aren't adopted without the full support of everyone on the team. Starters are welcomed onto the field with shouting and high fives in a semi-circle. That sense of being welcomed with open arms is a result of the bond between Cook and Walsh.
"The team sees how much we enjoy our job and recognizes how important they are to us," said Walsh. "More of our players are interested in going into coaching and I think a big reason is the relationship we share and the enjoyment we get out of it beyond the wins."
A true coaching partnership in the making since 1993, Walsh and Cook team up to head one of the most talented women's soccer intercollegiate programs.
"Beyond our friendship, she is the most talented coach in the country and has ability to run any program she chooses," said Walsh. "We are extremely fortunate to have her here and I am the luckiest coach to work side-by-side with her on a daily basis."