New Mexico Military Institute announced the hiring of head baseball coach Chris Cook in May 2012.  Even with limited time to recruit, the Bronco baseball program saw a transformation in Cook’s first year at the helm. The nine WJCAC victories were only two shy of equaling the number of conference wins in each of the previous three years combined.  

The baseball program took another step forward in year two with 21 overall victories against junior college programs and 12 WJCAC victories, which are both new school records.  Offensively, the Broncos were also able to eclipse a school record with 32 home runs on the year. In addition to the school records, several players accomplished significant feats in years one and two. Both Austin Grier and Joe Galindo earned National Player of the week honors and Correy Davis broke a school record with 17 doubles while tying a school record with 48 runs scored.

During season three in 2015, the Bronco’s again broke school records for overall wins (26) and conference victories (17) while finishing two games out of the NJCAA Regional. Another 14 Bronco’s moved on to join four-year programs. Freshman outfielder Winston Welch broke a school record with 22 doubles while the pitching staff shattered the NMMI record books with 13 saves and a strikeout per inning ratio of .923.  Overall, the 2015 team found themselves in the top 10 historically in the following categories: slugging, RBIs, hits (No. 1), runs, average, walks, doubles (No. 1), triples, home runs, hit by pitch, strikeouts (No. 1), walk to strikeout ratio (No. 1), strikeouts per inning (No. 1), ERA and saves (No. 1).

Records continued to break during the fourth season in 2016 as the Bronco’s made an unprecedented run through the WJCAC and on to the NJCAA Region V tournament in Lubbock, Texas. The 28 overall regular season victories and the 22 WJCAC wins broke school records for the third consecutive season. The offense broke nearly every team record in the power categories: home runs (75), doubles (141), slugging percentage (.555), runs (432), hits (549) and RBIs (397). Three players were named to the All-Conference team (Justin Felix, Alex Howard and Carlos Ortiz) with Felix also being named to the All-Region team. The NJCAA Regional berth was the first at NMMI since 1961 and the Broncos opened their tournament with a first round win vs. the No. 3 team in the country.

In addition, the 2016 MLB Draft included a 2015 NMMI alum Joe Galindo, who had a standout season as the closer at New Mexico State University. Joe was drafted in the 13th round by the San Diego Padres and was the first NMMI player drafted in 47 years.

The fifth season in 2017 was another offensive year for the Broncos. The offense helped earn Cook his 100th career win as a head coach (fastest to 100 in NMMI history) as well as his 106th program victory on March 5, making Cook the winningest baseball coach in NMMI history in less than four and a half years. Statistically, the offense finished the year with top 10 numbers in average (2nd), runs (2nd), doubles (2nd), home runs (2nd), walks (4th), hits (4th), RBIs (2nd), triples (1st), and slugging percentage (2nd). The 33 team triples ranked fourth in the nation (Fr. Angel Colon finished second in the nation with 10). Six different Broncos were named All-Conference Honorable Mention and Parker Bateman, Bobby Galindo, and Angel Colon were named to the Fall TXNMJC All-Star games which were held in Weatherford, Texas. Ruger Rodriguez, a 2015 NMMI alum, signed a professional independent league contract after a record breaking season as the closer at New Mexico State University.

In season six (2018), the Broncos produced another very strong offensive season highlighted by the first All-American honoree (Soph. Angel Colon) in 57 years. The 26 season victories tied the 2015 season for second most in school history. Top five all-time team stat categories were produced in average, runs, doubles, home runs, walks, strikeouts per inning, hits, RBIs, slugging, strikeouts, walk to strikeout ratio, wins, and conference wins. Nationally, Angel Colon finished fifth in triples, eighth in doubles and 16th in batting average while Bobby Galindo placed 30th. As a team, NMMI finished 18th nationally in doubles, 22nd in extra base hits and 27th in triples. Sophomores Bobby Galindo (El Paso, Texas), Angel Colon (Coamo, Puerto Rico) were named first-team All-Conference while freshman Eric Estrada (El Paso, Texas), sophomore Adam Abeyta (Taos, New Mexico), sophomore Luis Rivera (Coamo, Puerto Rico) and freshman Miko Soto (El Paso, Texas) were named honorable mention All-Conference.

Season seven (2019) saw a large group of sophomore and freshmen players move on to the next level (16 of 21). Overall wins and conference wins placed fourth all-time in school history. The offensive numbers were good enough for top five all-time team marks in RBIs, doubles, runs, hits, home runs, slugging and walks. On the mound the pitching staff earned program top five marks in ERA (2nd), strikeouts per inning (1st), strikeouts (1st) and walk to strikeout ratio. In addition, two Broncos were named to the Academic All-American teams.

Season eight (2020) got off to a fast start before being shut down due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Broncos finished the shortened year 14-10. The squad dominated in the classroom with five players earning Academic All-American status. The team also earned an ABCA team Academic Excellence Award for their success during the fall and spring semesters.

This fall Cook begins his ninth season leading the Bronco baseball program and his 23rd overall at the collegiate level. Prior to NMMI, Cook spent over half his career at the NCAA Division I level, including a six-year stretch (2006-2012) as an assistant at Arkansas State University.

At ASU, Cook served as recruiting coordinator in addition to coaching infielders and hitters. Cook was a part of some of the most exciting moments in ASU baseball program history. By winning two games at each of the last three conference tournaments, the Red Wolves were able to accomplish something in three consecutive years that had not been done even once since 1997. Only two Sun Belt Conference teams won more SBC tournament games over that three-year span.

The 2012 team led the Sun Belt Conference in victories (19) and battled to the conference tournament championship game.

The 34 victories ranks fourth all-time and had not been accomplished for 15 years. Also in 2012, Cook assisted the defense to an ASU team record .973 fielding percentage. During the 2011 campaign, Cook helped the hitters achieve top 10 all-time team statistics in runs, hits, RBIs, walks and fielding percentage. In 2010, Cook helped the Red Wolves improve to a .312 batting average that currently ranks second in team history. The Red Wolves also boasted a school record 647 hits. In 2009, Cook helped coach the Red Wolves to a batting average of .296, which ranks fourth all-time in ASU history. Arkansas State belted out 557 hits with 242 walks, 337 runs, 291 RBIs and 242 walks, all ranking in ASU’s top 10 all-time team statistics.

Cook came to Arkansas State after serving as an assistant for one season at Austin Peay State where he coached former Bronco pitching coach Rowdy Hardy. Prior to his experience at Austin Peay, Cook spent three seasons as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina where he led the Bearcats to one of the top team ERA's in NCAA Division II. Cook was part of a coaching staff that led Lander to a spot in the Division II National Poll each season, including a ranking of seventh in 2005.

In his career, Cook has coached over 70 players who have gone on to play professional baseball, including the first five Lander players to ever play professional baseball and another six who have made it to the major leagues. Cook also assisted in recruiting three nationally ranked recruiting classes, which are the 2003 Winthrop incoming class and each of the 2007 and 2009 ASU recruiting classes. Before coaching at Lander, Cook held coaching positions at Winthrop University, Collin County Community College and at his alma mater, Rockford College. Cook also spent two summers as a head coach in the Coastal Plain League, one as head coach of the division champion Durham Americans and the second as head coach of the Wilson Tobs.

Cook earned his business administration and marketing degree at Rockford College. Chris and his wife Wendy have been married since May 2001 and they have a daughter named Julianna.

Collegiate coaching career
2012-present: New Mexico Military Institute (head coach)
2006-2012: Arkansas State (assistant coach/recruiting coordinator)
2006:  Austin Peay State University (assistant coach)
2002-2005: Lander University (pitching coach/recruiting coordinator)
2002: Winthrop University (assistant coach)
2001: Collin College (assistant coach/assistant athletic director)
1999-2001: Rockford College (assistant coach/recruiting coordinator)
Summer collegiate league coaching experience
2005: Wilson Tobs (Coastal Plain League) (head coach)
2004: Colleyville Lone Stars (Texas Collegiate League) (pitching coach)
2003: Durham Americans (Coastal Plain League) (head coach)
Playing Career
1993-96: Lane Community College
1996-98: Rockford College