Dick Cooke, Davidson Wildcats Baseball

Dick Cooke is in his 28th year as head coach of the Davidson Wildcats baseball program for the 2018 season and has also served as the Senior Men’s Administrator for the past 12 years. Cooke led the charge as the Wildcats shifted from the Southern Conference to the Atlantic 10, where the program has seen rapidly improving success each season.

Cooke, the winningest coach in Davidson Wildcats baseball history, is the only skipper to win 20 or more games in four consecutive seasons, which he has done on two separate occasions (1991-1994) (2014-2017). He also served a three-year stint as chair of the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee.

Twelve of Cooke’s players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft during his tenure, with another four by way of free agent contracts.

Atlantic 10 Success

The Davidson Wildcats have participated in the Atlantic 10 Tournament every season since joining the league in 2015, and have recorded four consecutive seasons of 28 wins or better. In the inaugural season, the squad earned the No. 4 seed after a 28-22 (14-10 A-10) record, where the team fell in the semifinals.

The Davidson Wildcats had their most successful season in program history in 2017, capped off by Cooke earning Regional Coach of the Year honors. The team won their first conference title in the program’s 115-year existence with a school record 35 wins, and went on to become just the second number four seed to ever sweep a NCAA Regional. Cooke’s tutelage helped lead outfielder Will Robertson to become the most decorated player in school  history, earning four All-America honors, being named a NCAA Breakout Player of the Year finalist, and being taken by the Baltimore Orioles in the 30th round of the MLB Draft. Cooke’s pitching expertise also helped senior hurler Durin O’Linger rise to fame, who threw over 500 pitches in the postseason in his determination to help his team succeed and became a legend amongst Davidson faithful. O’Linger signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox and was promoted to High-A just a few weeks into his professional debut.

The 2016 campaign marked a historic season for the ‘Cats, where the team became the first No. 6 seed to ever compete for the A-10 title. Friday night ace Clark Beeker was selected in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins after earning All-Conference honors and finishing his career ranked third all-time with 21 wins.

SoCon Era

Cooke’s most successful season in the Southern Conference came during his final year, when the ‘Cats set a then-program record for 29 wins ...