Big shoes needing filling

CHENEY - Dave Cook, Eastern Washington University's long-time sports information director, announced through a personal email message on Tuesday, June 1 that he will retire effective July 1.

Cook, who has served as the SID since July 1990, but also had an earlier stint in Cheney in 1985 in an interim role, said in his statement, he was exiting into retirement "earlier than expected," falling behind in the ever-changing technology race that drives his job.

"I basically just can't keep up anymore and have lost touch with so much - particularly with the ever-changing technology, social media and creative aspects associated with sports communications."

A Yakima native and graduate of both Davis High School (1981) and Central Washington University (1985), the 58-year-old Cook first arrived in Cheney in 1985 where he took on a one-year role when then SID, Jim Price went on a year's leave of absence. Cook would go on to work in the same job at the University of Idaho from 1986-1990.

"When I visited Eastern for a game, Jim Price tipped me off that he was going to go on a year's leave of absence and they would hire somebody for one-year position," Cook recalled in an earlier interview.

While on his first stint in Cheney Cook experienced first-hand EWU's first football playoff win, 42-38, at the Kibbie Dome against Idaho.

His initial time at Eastern was indeed short and when Price returned Cook accepted the same position back in Moscow during a memorable time for Vandal athletics.

"That was a fun four years with a lot of championships, football playoff berths and a couple of NCAA Basketball Tournament appearances," Cook said.

But that year in Cheney and the people whom he would become fast friends with made it an easy decision to return to Eastern.

"The people - especially Judy, Kerry (Moxcey), John (Johnson), Dick (Zornes) and Ron (Raver) - were what drew me back to Eastern in the first place," he said.

Cook's starting date at Eastern is easy to recall as long as he remembers his wedding anniversary. "Freida and I got married on June 30, 1990, and I started on something like the fifth of July so it worked out timing wise pretty good," he said.

Cook has been a personal eyewitness to the immense strides Eastern athletics have taken in its run as a Division I program, starting of course in 1985. A few of the mant milestones include:

The 1997 EWU football playoff run with three "home" games at Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium.

Back-to-back Big Sky football titles in 2004 and 2005.

The 2010 national championship win over Delaware.

The three NCAA basketball tournament berths in 2004, 2015 and 2021.

"I just always thought playing three playoff games at Albi Stadium in Spokane in 1997 was so huge and so that kind of popped us up into the national scene," Cook said.

Away from the job, which he rarely is while connected to his Smart Phone, Cook's No. 1 priority is family, who besides his wife of 31 years, Freda, include children Evan and Olivia.

But music and running are right up there, too.

Son Evan is an accomplished pianist and Cook said he "Has instilled into us a great appreciation for the artists who create it. Hence, the Cooks enjoy a wide genre of music.

Dave and Frieda, a teacher in the Medical Lake School District are both long-time members of Cheney's "Flightless Birds" running club and morning runs for him are a ritual.

Long before Cooper Kupp made the Los Angeles Rams one of the favorite teams of Eagle fans, Cook has embraced the franchise dating back to its white and blue color scheme and even through their move to St. Louis.

Cook has an ongoing role as a member of the executive committee for the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition, he's worked as a volunteer on numerous national, regional and local sports competitions.

He and former Eastern track coach, Jerry Martin, helped first bring the WIAA state track and field championships to EWU in 1996 - and they remain in Cheney to this day. For his multiple involvements, Cook was recognized by the Spokane Sports Writers and Broadcasters with a 25-Year Award.

Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].