Longtime Penn State men’s soccer head coach Jeff Cook is headed to the big leagues, the university announced in a release Friday morning.
After eight seasons leading the Nittany Lions, Cook has resigned to take on a leadership role with an MLS club. It’s unclear which club he intends to join, but he has prior experience with the Philadelphia Union (2013-17).
The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year produced a 66-49-23 record and led Penn State to three NCAA Tournament appearances. The team won regular season championships in 2021 and 2023 and the conference tournament in 2021. Nine players were drafted under his watch.
“It has been a privilege to lead the men’s soccer program at Penn State for the last eight years,” Cook said in the release. “My family and I are beyond grateful for the time we have spent in State College and are deeply appreciative of all that this University has done for us. I’m proud of the accomplishments we have attained, of our student-athletes’ successes on and off the soccer field, and of the countless meaningful friendships that have been built.”
The Nittany Lions finished 5-8-4 this season including just 1-6-3 in Big Ten play, failing to qualify for the postseason and marking back-to-back losing seasons after going 5-9-2 the year before.
“We are incredibly grateful to Jeff for his eight years of leadership and dedication to Penn State men’s soccer,” athletics director Pat Kraft said in the release. “Jeff not only guided our program to championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, but he also developed outstanding student-athletes on and off the field. We thank him for his commitment to excellence and wish him the very best as he begins this next chapter in his career.”
A national search for Cook’s replacement will begin immediately.
