On Tuesday morning, Cincinnati volleyball announced two new additions to Danijela Tomic’s coaching staff, Alison Cooke and Sean Drexl, who will leave BGSU to join the former Falcon head coach. 

Cooke was formally the associate head coach for Bowling Green, serving eight seasons for the Orange and Brown, working primarily with the defense and setters. 

During Cooke’s tenure, the Falcons managed back-to-back Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year awards and MAC Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018 with libero Kallie Seimet.  

Playing for Wingate University from 2010 to 2013, Cooke brought her collegiate experience as a setter to the Stroh as she helped lead setter Isabelle Marciniak to BGSU’s first-ever MAC Setter of the Year in 2016. 

“I am grateful for Coach Tomić’s trust in me and feel privileged to take the next step in our careers together. The passion for this university is palpable, and I am looking forward to connecting more with our community. Go Bearcats!” Cooke said in the school’s introductory press release. 

Drexl will also join Tomic’s staff following two full seasons with the Orange and Brown, serving as the director of volleyball operations from August of 2023 til January of 2025. 

Similarly to Cooke, Drexl had a collegiate playing career as he was a libero for the University of Charleston from 2017-2021.  

“I am incredibly eager to aid Coach Tomić in bolstering Cincinnati volleyball’s position in the Big 12 Conference and community alike,” Drexl said. 

Bowling Green’s new head coach, Alex DelPiombo, will have her hands full as the coaching staff from the 2024 season, besides DelPiombo herself, has moved to Cincinnati. 

The Bearcats hope that the Bowling Green additions will help change the trajectory of their program as Cincinnati finished 14-15 on the season, going 5-13 in Big 12 play.