Cory Cole - Women's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Cory Cole

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
Cory.Cole@gcu.edu
Phone:
602-639-6067

Follow @CColeGCU

Associate head coach Cory Cole enters his seventh season with the Grand Canyon women’s basketball program in 2015-16. He was instrumental in working alongside head coach Trent May while building GCU into a nationally-respected Division II powerhouse, and is now helping lay the building blocks for the program's venture into Division I.

Cole’s primary duties include serving as recruiting and defensive coordinator, as well as player development and scouting of opponents. In the 2011-12 season, the 'Lopes were the Division II statistical champion for scoring defense. In its final season in Division II, GCU gave up just 55.0 points per game and was ranked No. 16. Teams shot just 36.1 percent against the Lopes, while GCU out-rebounded foes by a +12.6 margin. During the 2010-11 season, GCU allowed a conference-low 57.5 points per game, ranking No. 34 out of 294 schools in the nation.

In the program’s first transition season into Division I in 2013-14, GCU led the WAC in scoring defense at 60.1 points per game, and then added a second consecutive defensive title by giving up only 58.7 points per game in 2014-15.

During his 12-year tenure at his alma mater, Oklahoma Christian, the Eagles ranked among the best teams in the NAIA and averaged 20-plus wins each season. Oklahoma Christian advanced to eight straight NAIA national tournament appearances, including three Sweet 16 bids and one Elite Eight finish. Cole coached 17 NAIA All-Americans and 22 academic all-conference selections.

Cole played professionally in England for the Thames Valley Tigers during the 1996 season and was named Budweiser League All-Star after averaging 21.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game, as well as leading his club to the second round of the playoffs. He signed a two-year deal to remain with the club, but opted out when the opportunity arose to join the coaching ranks at Oklahoma Christian.

During his playing days at Oklahoma Christian, he finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,916 points and its all-time leading rebounder with 1,322. He currently is third on the all-time scoring list and still holds the school rebounding record. He was a three-year starter for the Eagles and finished with career averages of 17.5 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game, including more than 64 double-doubles during his career. He was named a third-team All-American as a junior, and was a three-time first-team all-conference selection. As a senior, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American and Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Cole was inducted into the Oklahoma Christian Hall of Fame in 2000.

Cole is a native of Norman, Okla. where he was a local prep star. During his senior season in 1989-90, his team won the 6A state championship, going an impressive 28-0 and being ranked No. 22 in the nation in the final USA Today poll. Cole was selected to the 6A all-state team, was a Faith 7 All-Star and was named Mid-State Conference Player of the Year as a senior. He was inducted into the Norman High School Hall of Fame in 2000.

Cole and his wife, Cristi, have two daughters, Crislyn and Caylor, and son Caison. They reside in Surprise, Ariz. Cole graduated with a BSE degree in physical education and a minor in communications from Oklahoma Christian.