Local volleyball community mourns the loss of Hall of Fame coach Jim Cook

James K. “Jim” “Tim” "Cookies" Cook passed on July 24, 2026    For many young sports writers, the first couple years of their job can mold their career in a good way or a bad way right from the start.
    When I started at the Breese Journal in 2000, I had the honor of starting my first fall season with two volleyball legends in Fred Rakers and Jim Cook.
    Cook passed away on Saturday night at the age of 75 and is now joined with coach Rakers in volleyball heaven.
    Dealing with those two individuals as a 24-year old sports writer with a limited knowledge of volleyball is something I will always cherish and remember.
    Both were a very different type of individual, but both had the passion and a superior knowledge of the game of volleyball and always were there for me when I had questions.
    Cook is widely regarded as one of the most successful volleyball coaches in Illinois high school history, building Breese Central into a perennial state power through decades of excellence, discipline and player development. Since taking over the Cougars program in 1995 after coaching seven seasons at Wesclin High School, Cook established a winning tradition that became the standard for volleyball in southern Illinois.
    Cookie, as many called coach Cook, was interpreted as a tough, no nonsense type of coach and it always seemed like he was yelling at the girls.
    But as they got to know Cookie, it was just his grizzly voice and half the time they had no idea what he was talking about.
    My first couple of interviews with coach Cook was something of puzzlement and confusion as I had to listen to my old school recorder several times to try and get the quotes correct.
    After a couple of years covering coach Cook and Central’s volleyball, Cookie and I began to have a strong relationship around volleyball, fantasy football and gambling machines!
    After tough matches in Freeburg, Columbia or Mascoutah, Cookie would avoid the bus rides home by riding with me as we toured dive bars on the way back to Central and just discussed volleyball and how it was evolving every year.
    His passion for the game was unmatched, his love for seeing his girls have success on the floor was always there in his small quirky smile after matches and trips to the State Tournament.
    I’ll never forget a Super Sectional in the late 90s when Central came in with 13 or 14 losses and the other team had three losses all season.  I was sitting on the bench pregame across from coach Cook as he watched the other team warm up.  
    He came over to me with the crooked smile and said if they score 10 points total against us the girls are not going to like me too much tomorrow at practice.  The match lasted less than 20 minutes with Carlinville scoring just six points in a 15-5, 15-1 win for Central.
    It was then that I realized why he played such a tough schedule and how prepared a coach can be by watching 10 minutes of warm ups.
    Cook’s impact was immediate. In just his second season at Breese Central, the Cougars captured the 1996 IHSA Class A state championship with a 36-3 record, followed by another outstanding season in 1997 that ended with a trip back to the state finals. Over the next decade, Breese Central remained among the state’s elite, adding a third-place finish in 1999, another state championship in 2005 and a state runner-up finish in 2006. His teams were consistently ranked among Illinois’ best while producing numerous conference, regional and sectional championships.
    Known for demanding excellence while fostering a team-first culture, Cook emphasized fundamentals, communication and relentless effort. His practices were organized and competitive, preparing players not only to win matches but also to compete under the pressure of postseason volleyball. Many of his former players credit Cook with teaching life lessons about accountability, preparation and perseverance that extended well beyond the volleyball court.
    Cook’s longevity and consistency are equally impressive. His career includes more than 500 victories between his time at Wesclin and Breese Central, with the vast majority coming while leading the Cougars. 
    Year after year, his teams were recognized for their disciplined play, defensive intensity and balanced offensive attacks, hallmarks of his coaching philosophy.
    Beyond the wins and championships, Cook’s greatest legacy is the culture he created at Breese Central. He transformed the Cougars into one of Illinois’ premier volleyball programs, inspiring generations of athletes and leaving an enduring mark on the school, the community and high school volleyball throughout the state.
    Cook coached at Central for 21 seasons and had a career record of 612-212 with three State Championships and eight state trophies.
    His brilliant career included 15 regional titles, 10 sectional titles, 10 Super-Sectional wins and 12 Cahokia Conference titles.  He is currently 17th all-time in IHSA history with his 711 career wins.
    Cook was a four year Air Force veteran were he served in air traffic control.
    Several former players, coaches and friends praised and remember coach Cook in their own words.
    
    “Otherwise known as my favorite coach, the coach who pushed me to be the absolute best, and the coach who could yell at me all day long and I would take it as a compliment, because I knew he was always wanting me to be better when I stepped off the court,” said Sarah Barth Deiters.
    
    “Coach Cook was one of my favorite volleyball coaches to talk to. I had so much respect for him.  I don’t know how much the Clinton County volleyball world knows about my dad and Coach Cook’s relationship, but they were great friends.  Thank you Coach Cook for being a giver and helping me to be a better coach, but more importantly a better person,” said Chad Rakers.
    
    “Simply the best! Coach prepared us for so much more than volleyball…life doesn’t always take it easy, and neither did he, but I wouldn’t trade my days of his (muffled) butt chewings for anything…and there were plenty of them handed out to the Class of ‘07! If you were lucky enough to be coached by him, you learned quickly that respect could be earned through hard work and giving max effort every single play. He didn’t care about the fancy stuff, just cared about doing it the right way. Every one of his players were proud to go to battle for him! Thanks for everything, Coach! You will be greatly missed,” said Kassi (Buehne) Petterson.
    
    “Coach is someone I will never forget. You were a great friend and a great coach. I was fortunate enough to coach alongside you and would watch in awe of how those kids worked for you. They loved and respected you. Things we don’t see too often these days,” said former assistant coach Chris Detmer.
    
    Rest in Peace my Friend