Head coach Mark Berson announced on March 27, 2017, the hiring of Justin Cook as an assistant coach for the men's soccer program at the University of South Carolina. Cook joins the Gamecocks after 10 seasons (2007-16) as an assistant coach at Tulsa. "Justin joins us from the University of Tulsa where he has consistently brought in outstanding recruiting classes and assisted in helping TU put an outstanding team on the field each year," said Berson, "He has an outstanding pedigree as a player at Ohio State, where he was one of only two players in history to earn both Big Ten freshman of the year honors and then Big Ten player of the Year honors as a senior." Cook most recently served as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator for the Golden Hurricane. While with Tulsa, he was a part of eight NCAA Tournament teams, three American Athletic Conference Tournament Championships (2014-16), four C-USA Tournament Championships (2007-09) and three C-USA Regular Season Championships. In their eight NCAA berths with Cook, the Golden Hurricane advanced to the second round four times (2007-08, 10, 15), the third round once (2012) and the NCAA Quarterfinals once (2009). In 2010, the program received a school-best No. 2 national ranking. The program compiled a 117-60-25 (.683 pct) record overall during Cook's time there. While with Tulsa, Cook recruited three MAC Hermann Trophy candidates, three All-Americans, five academic All-Americans, three C-USA Players of the Year, two C-USA Defensive Players of the Year, 28 all-conference selections and one member of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Men's Soccer Team. Cook had a highly decorated career as a player as well. He was inducted into the 2015 Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame after earning Big Ten All-Conference honors four times. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2000 and the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2004. He was selected 51st overall in the 2005 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Cook is a native of Orlando, Fla. He and his wife Stefanie have three children - two daughters, Piper and Riley - and a son, Gavin.