Former Colonel Colette Cole is now in her seventh season as an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University and ninth season on staff.
Cole works primarily with the team's post players. She also oversees the team's academics and community service efforts. The women's basketball team is heavily involved within the surrounding communities, accumulating hundreds of volunteer hours each season.
In the fall of 2017, the women’s basketball team posted a 3.21 grade-point-average, the program’s third highest ever.
In the spring of 2017, the women's basketball team received the President's Volunteer Service Award from the Corporation on National and Community Service for its commitment to serving the Richmond community.
On the court, Cole helped the Colonels return to the Ohio Valley Conference title game in 2016 for the first time since 2005. She helped EKU win 18 games and go 10-6 in conference contests. In 2016-17, Eastern became the first No. 7 seed in league history to advance to the tournament finals. The Colonels knocked off No. 2 seed Morehead State and No. 3 seed Southern Illinois Edwardsville en route to the title game.
Cole served as EKU’s director of basketball operations for two years prior to becoming an assistant coach in 2012, coordinating team travel, film exchange, summer camps and budget.
“Colette has been an enthusiastic and loyal member of our Colonel family since 2006, when she first came to EKU as a freshman," head coach Chrissy Roberts said. "She enjoyed a successful playing career and exemplified what being a student-athlete is all about. She has a unique perspective to offer my current and future players because she played for me and fully understands the demands and rewards of being a Colonel. Colette is a tremendous role model.”
Cole was a four-year letter winner for the Colonels from 2006 to 2010. During her career she played in 98 games and started 42 times while averaging 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
During her junior season Cole averaged a career-best 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. She also recorded two double-doubles, had 32 steals, 24 assists and blocked 10 shots. She finished among the top-20 in the conference in rebounding and third on the team in scoring. During her senior campaign Cole shot a career-best 42 percent from the field.
In the classroom, Cole was a four-time winner of the Ohio Valley Conference Medal of Honor, which is given annually to the student-athletes who achieve the highest grade point average in a conference-sponsored sport. She was chosen to the 2008-09 and 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team.
Cole earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management in December 2009, completing the degree in three and a half years. In the spring of 2011, Cole completed a master’s degree in sport management. She is currently working towards a PhD in educational leadership and policy studies.
As a standout at Breathitt County High School Cole earned four varsity letters, was named 2006 14th Region Player of the Year, was chosen as the 2006 Gatorade Mountain Co-Player of the Year and led the state in scoring as senior. She ended her career as school’s all-time leading scorer after averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior. Cole also played four years of varsity softball and two years of volleyball. She was Breathitt County High School’s 2006 salutatorian and graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.
