Sarah Cook is the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of Mary, where she leads the Marauders with a commitment to developing accomplished scholar-athletes on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community.
Cook assumed leadership of the program in 2012 and has since become the winningest head coach in University of Mary women’s soccer history. She earned her 100th career victory in a thrilling overtime win over St. Cloud State during the 2024 NSIC Tournament and has guided the Marauders to eight conference tournament appearances. Her teams have advanced to multiple NSIC semifinals and reached the NSIC Tournament championship match in 2023. The Marauders recorded three consecutive double-digit-win seasons from 2022–2024, while the 2025 team established a new NCAA-era program record with 40 goals.
A United States Soccer Federation “A” Licensed coach, Cook has established a competitive program built on accountability, trust, respect, grit, and excellence. Her teams are recognized for their disciplined organization, relentless work ethic, and commitment to representing the University of Mary with pride. Under her leadership, the Marauders have also achieved tremendous academic success, including a 3.67 team GPA during the spring 2026 semester.
Cook is passionate about growing the game and developing the next generation of players and coaches. She has been recognized as a US Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year and is the only female coach in North Dakota to hold a USSF “A” License.
Beyond competition, Cook emphasizes leadership, character, service, and meaningful relationships. Her guiding philosophy—“Excellence is a Habit”—reflects her belief that lasting success is created through consistent daily choices. She and her staff strive to provide every Marauder with a transformational collegiate experience while preparing players to succeed long after their soccer careers have ended.
Cook’s connection to the University of Mary began as a standout member of the Marauders women’s soccer program. During her playing career, she was a three-time All-American, three-time team captain, and the 2003 Regional Player of the Year. She helped lead the Marauders to three NAIA National Championship appearances and was later inducted into the University of Mary Marauders Hall of Fame for her accomplishments.
Sarah is married to fellow University of Mary alumnus David Cook, whom she met through the Marauders soccer programs. David played for the University of Mary men’s soccer team and later served as the program’s longtime head coach. He was also an assistant coach with the 2007 University of Mary women’s soccer team and was inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame alongside that championship team. Together, Sarah and David have three daughters: Emma, Harper, and Willow.
Cook has coached several players earning NSIC All-Conference honors such as: Michelle Jones, Ashley Akers, Alex Bachman-Williams, Dre Muller, Michelle McGeary, Shelby Buttron, Caitlin Dooley, Megan Lowery, Caylin Cathey, Kylee Welch, Jade Smith, Libby Patterson, Malia Brudvik, Kayla Alcott, Cassidy Pierce, Sam Guzman.
In Megan Searson, set the NCAA record (across all divisions) for the fastest goal in NCAA History at 3 seconds against University of Minnesota, Crookston.
The 2017 season was quite successful for the Marauders. Cook lead the team to a record of 12-5-2. The team earned the 5th seed in the NSIC Conference Tournament and made it to the semi-finals. The team tallied 6 shutouts and a 1.63 goals scored per game average.
In 2018, the Marauders found their way back to the NSIC Semifinal after eliminating NSIC #1, and NCAA #4 Bemidji State in a thrilling PK Shootout. Freshman Goalkeeper, Madisyn Waltman, made two big saves during the shootout to push the Marauders back to the NSIC Semifinal.
The 2019 season was full of record breaking achievements for the Marauders. Finishing the season 11-4-3, and ending their season in a PK shootout in the NSIC tournament. The team was ranked in the NCAA Central Region top 10 all season long. The Marauders beat University of Minnesota, Mankato, for the first time in program history with a 2-1 defeat at home. Mankato was ranked fourth in the country at the time, which was the programs biggest win over an national ranked team. The Marauders also set a record by scoring the most goals in a single game, defeating University of Minnesota, Crookston 7-0.
Another record the Marauders earned in the 2019 season is the fewest goals allowed in program history, only allowing 10, which had a Goals Allowed Average of .53 per game. This ranked the Marauders in the top 13 in all of NCAA DII. Goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman will get credit for that single season record, and Defender Malia Brudvik tied a single season assists record with 9.
In 2021, The Marauders finished the NSIC season at 8-5-2, making the NSIC Conference tournament for the 4
th season in a row (no season was played in 2020 due to COVID). The Marauders lost a hard fought match to the #25 University of Minnesota, Mankato 1-0, in the Quarterfinals of the NSIC tournament. Madisyn Waltman tied a school record of 25 career shutouts (tying Kristen Werner 2001-2004).
Sarah Cook's record at UMary
| Year |
Overall |
Northern Sun |
| 2012 |
10-8 |
10-5 |
| 2013 |
4-10-4 |
4-6-4 |
| 2014 |
6-8-4 |
5-7-3 |
| 2015 |
3-12-2 |
3-11-1 |
| 2016 |
4-10-3 |
4-9-2 |
| 2017 |
12-5-2 |
9-4-2 |
| 2018 |
8-8-3 |
7-6-2 |
| 2019 |
11-4-3 |
9-4-2 |
| 2020 |
2-2 |
0-0 |
| 2021 |
9-7-3 |
8-5-2 |
| 2022 |
10-5-4 |
7-4-4 |
| 2023 |
10-8-3 |
7-5-2 |
| 2024 |
11-4-4 |
8-3-3 |
| 2025 |
8-7-4 |
6-5-4 |
| Total |
108-98-39 |
87-74-31 |
