It's with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of long-time Rollins women's basketball assistant coach
Eddie Cole.
Cole joined
Glenn Wilkes Jr.'s staff in the 1989 season, and has spent more than three decades on the sidelines alongside his friend. The coaching combo is believed to be one of the winningest duos in the history of basketball with more than 700 wins accumulated over the last 37 years. Together, they helped the Tars average more than 20 wins per season while making the NCAA tournament 16 times. The team went undefeated during the 2005-06 regular season, and made the Elite Eight in 2011-12.
In 2023, Eddie was elected to the Rollins Sports Hall of Fame. While his coaching resume is impressive, his work off the court is what set him apart and made him truly special.Â
For the past two decades, Cole served as the Executive Director of Every Kid Outreach, Inc. (EKO), working with middle and high school minority youth in Eatonville, Winter Park, Maitland and Apopka. During the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Cole was presented with a new car by TNT's Kenny "The Jet" Smith for his work with EKO.
Cole is the former mayor of historic Eatonville, Florida. He was also elected as a member of the Eatonville Town Council and as the Chief Administrative officer for the City of Eatonville. During the NBA season, Cole served as team chaplain for the Orlando Magic.
"Eddie was an incredible man who left a lasting impact on countless lives," remarked Associate Vice President for Athletics Pennie Parker. "His positive energy radiated through everyone he spoke to, and his impact on Rollins basketball as well as the Central Florida community cannot be understated. This is a tremendous loss for all those who knew him, and our thoughts are with his family during this tough time."
A native of Canton, Ohio, Cole attended and played basketball at Stark Tech College. He is the proud father of five children: Michelle, Crystal, twins Alex and Alicia, and his adopted son, Obiora Nnaji.
