ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jamie Cook has been selected as the 2024 Heinz Lenz Fellowship Award Recipient.
The Naval Academy Class of 1973 created a fellowship in honor of the late Coach Heinz Lenz. The appointed coach, selected by the Athletic Director every two years, epitomizes Coach Lenz' leadership qualities and attributes. The award recognizes the importance of Athletics Excellence as a contributor to the overall mission of the Naval Academy to develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and wishes to commemorate the athletic excellence pillar in honor and memory of Coach Heinz Lenz.
In the spirit of Coach Lenz's total commitment to the development of young people in becoming Leaders of great character, the award recognizes a current varsity or club coach with an appointment to the Coach Heinz Lenz Chair. The appointment is for a two-year term, with an opportunity for one additional two-year term. The appointment consists of additional leadership and/or administrative opportunities, but comes with an annual monetary stipend sourced through the Naval Academy Foundation. The coach selected for this distinction is the head coach or an assistant coach of a non-revenue sport. The coach should epitomize Coach Lenz's leadership qualities and attributes, to include (but not be limited to): a keen sense of integrity; competitive team spirit; commitment to the Naval Academy mission; a joy and passion for his/her profession; and an expectation to win on the field and in life.
Cook was named the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at the Naval Academy in August of 2017 after an impressive career as an assistant coach at both Penn and Oregon, where he coached Olympians, National Champions, and All-Americans.
In his first seven seasons at the helm of the Navy track and field team, Cook has won 20 Patriot League Coach of the Year honors (men's indoor – 2018, '20, '22, '23, '24; women's indoor – 2019, '20 '22, '23, '24; men's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '22, '23; women's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '22, '23) as well as being selected as the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year five times (men's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '23; women's indoor – 2021).
Cook has directed the Mids to 20 Patriot League Championships (men's indoor – 2018, '20, '22, '23, '24; women's indoor – 2019, '20, '22, '23, '24; men's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '22, '23; women's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '22, '23), while helping Navy claim 23 Stars (men's indoor – 2018, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24; women's indoor – 2020, '21, '22, '23. '24; men's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '22, '23, '24; women's outdoor – 2018, '19, '21, '22, '23, '24) in the Army-Navy Star Series, which is part of the overall Star Series presented by USAA. The Navy men's and women's track & field teams have combined to win 20 Army-Navy meets in a row.
In addition, Navy has claimed four IC4A Outdoor Championships (2018, '19, '21, '23) and one ECAC Outdoor Championship (2021) under Cook.
"Coach Jamie Cook has led our Men's and Women's Track & Field teams to the highest level of competitive success year after year, said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "His achievements at Navy are historic and both the team and personal accomplishments of our Midshipmen have set the bar for our other 35 varsity sports. His coaching philosophy parallels the educational values that clearly define the motivational teachings of Heinz Lenz. Coach Cook undoubtedly deserves this recognition and is a stellar representative of what determination, motivation, work ethic, leadership, and personal accountability are all about."
"I am honored to accept the Heinz Lenz Fellowship on behalf of all of the athletes, coaches, and support staff that have helped elevate the Navy Track & Field and Cross Country program," said Cook. "Competition and leadership have always been at the forefront of what we teach each day. What it truly means to "Be an Athlete!" in everything you do and the lessons learned through the journey towards improvement. Coach Lenz's lifelong pursuit of the Physical Mission, and the Class of 1973's recognition of that, will help support future T&F/XC members to continue to thrive here at the Naval Academy."
Men's rugby head coach Gavin Hickie was named the inaugural Heinz Lenz fellow in 2020, while women's soccer head coach Carin Gabarra was named the winner in 2022.
Class projects like this raise funds to support an initiative of their choosing. The Class of 1973 Heinz Lenz Fellow, led by Dirk Mosis and Class Fundraiser, George Watt, has received great support from class alumni, providing Margin of Excellence support to Navy Athletics programs.
