TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's volleyball head coach Danijela Tomić has announced a staff promotion ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Ali for nine seasons, and her loyalty, dedication, integrity, and belief in our shared vision have shaped every team we’ve coached together,” Tomić said. “Her promotion to Associate Coach is well-deserved and simply recognizes the impact she already makes every day on our student-athletes and the direction of Cincinnati Volleyball.”
Alison Cooke, who served as an assistant coach for the Bearcats this past season, has been elevated to associate head coach. Cooke has been a key part of Tomić's staffs for nine seasons — eight at Bowling Green State University, where she previously held the same title, and one at Cincinnati.
“I am grateful for Coach Tomić’s trust in me and excited to continue building this program here at Cincinnati,” Cooke said. “This past year has been full of growth and connection and I am looking forward to the future. I feel lucky to work with great players and an amazing staff every day who inspire me and push me to be my best. Go Bearcats!"
In her first season with the Bearcats, Cooke helped guide Cincinnati to 15 wins during the 2025-26 campaign, the program's most since 2021. She also played a key role in developing two All-Big 12 selections: Sydney Nolan (First Team) and Carly Glendinning (Second Team). Nolan had one of the best attacking seasons in UC history, earning AVCA All-Region honors — the first Bearcat to do so since Jordan Thompson in 2019 — and finishing ninth all-time in program history with 4.68 kills per set.
Together at Bowling Green, Tomić and Cooke amassed multiple championships, including three MAC regular-season titles (2017, 2018, 2024) and two MAC Tournament crowns (2020-21, 2022), both of which led to NCAA Tournament appearances.
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