CHAPEL HILL – Jenn Cook, one of the best women's lacrosse players in University of North Carolina and Atlantic Coast Conference history, has joined the Tar Heel coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Jenny Levy announced on Thursday. Cook served as an assistant coach last season at Drexel University.

Cook, who lettered at Carolina from 2004-07, was a three-time first-team All-America and earned 2006 National Defender of the Year honors from Inside Lacrosse. She garnered first-team All-ACC honors three times, was a Tewaraaton Trophy nominee and helped lead the Tar Heels to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

"We are so excited to have Jenn Cook return to Chapel Hill as an assistant coach for our program," Levy says. "While she was a student-athlete at North Carolina, she was a tremendous player, a Tewaraaton nominee and team captain her senior year. Not only was she talented and a leader, she is one of the hardest workers that we have had come through our program.

"I know she will bring her work ethic and the passion she has for the University of North Carolina and continue to positively impact on our program," continues Levy. "She is a true student of the game and will be a great addition to our staff."

Cook is Carolina's career leader in ground balls with 200 and is tied as the school's career leader in games played with 76. She also set a school record for draw controls with 51 in 2005. Cook the only three-time first-team All-America in Tar Heel history.

"Jenn is the first alumnus we have had join our coaching staff," Levy says. "It's very exciting to see her return to Chapel Hill to be a part of our future successes. Carolina is a special place, steeped with traditions of success and high expectations for character, integrity and performance. There is not a better person to impart our Carolina values to current and future Tar Heels than Jenn Cook, who has walked in those shoes."

The Tar Heels, who went 13-7 last season and reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the fourth year in a row, will launch their 2009 regular season on Feb. 15 at Vanderbilt.

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