Palm Beach Atlantic has named Cole Rose as the next head men’s basketball coach. Rose joins the Sailfish after spending the last seven years in an assistant capacity at Lee University in Tennessee, including this past season where he served as the associate coach.
“I’m excited to announce Cole Rose as our next head men’s basketball coach and to welcome his family to West Palm Beach,” Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans said. “There was a lot of interest in the position, and I’m grateful for the work of the search committee, under the leadership of Manisha Redus, head women’s basketball coach, for their work throughout this process. We had an impressive group of candidates, but Cole Rose‘s faith, experience working at faith-based institutions and successful NCAA Division II South Region ties that makes him the perfect fit for PBA. I believe Cole will continue on in the success of his predecessor Dave Balza and take our men’s basketball program to new and greater heights.”
Rose was instrumental in Lee qualifying for the last two NCAA Division II South Region Tournaments, claiming their first victory this March. The Flames posted a 15-6 record this year and a 22-7 mark in the last full season in 2019-20. A noted defensive coach, he helped Lee finish each of the last four seasons in the top-four of the Gulf South Conference in opponent’s scoring average. They led the league in 2018-19 and were second this past year, holding teams to 65.6 points per game.
He helped Lee in the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference when he returned to his alma mater in 2014 as an assistant coach. The Flames posted a winning record in each of the last four seasons including 22 wins in 2019-20, their most since joining Division II.
“I would like to thank Dr. Schwinn, Courtney Lovely Evans and everyone involved in the hiring committee and interview process for the opportunity to serve at Palm Beach Atlantic,” Rose said. “My family and I are truly humbled and excited to make PBA our home and so thankful to be in the grace of God’s timing to be called to this position. It’s always been our family’s prayer for God to put us where we’re needed, and we are ecstatic to take that next step at PBA.”
Rose began his coaching career at Trinity Christian in Dublin, Ga. in 2008-09. He would take over at Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tenn. from 2009-14 where he oversaw all aspects of the boys basketball program. Rose was named region coach of the year in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons while leading Boyd Buchanan to the school’s first trip to the state tournament in over a decade.
“I’ve always had tremendous respect for the Sailfish Men’s Basketball program under the leadership of Coach Balza, the success they’ve achieved and the values they’ve built upon,” Rose continue. “Throughout the hiring process, it became clear that the vision of Dr. Schwinn and the leadership of Courtney Lovely Evans make PBA a truly special campus to coach and have the privilege of developing young men. My family and I couldn’t be more excited to join the community of West Palm Beach and begin this journey at Palm Beach Atlantic.”
He spent the final two years of his playing career at Lee during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons as the Flames posted a 55-12 record. He helped lead the team to the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship in 2007-08, the Elite Eight of the NAIA National Tournament, and a school record 33 wins. Rose was named to the All-SSAC team and SSAC Defensive Player of the Year as the team captain in his senior season.
“Leaving a place like Lee University is never easy and I am forever grateful to Dr. Conn, Dr. Walker, Larry Carpenter, Tommy Brown and especially Bubba Smith, who has made such a tremendous impact on my life both professionally and personally,” Rose said. “I am grateful for the opportunities I have enjoyed at Lee and know they’ve been an integral ingredient in preparing me for this next step in my career and the challenges that lie ahead. I’m looking forward to competing against some of the best programs in the nation in the Sunshine State Conference and can’t wait to begin the process of building relationships with our players and community.”
He earned a Master’s Degree in English Rhetoric and Composition from Tennessee Chattanooga and also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Lee.
Cole is married to Ashley Rose and the couple will relocate to South Florida with their daughter, Penny and son, Jack.
He takes over a Sailfish team that posted a 21-9 record in their last full season in 2019-20, earning their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament before it’s cancellation due to Covid-19. In 2020-21 the team was limited to just seven games posting a 2-5 record and reaching the SSC Tournament semifinals.
https://pbasailfish.com/news/2021/5/10/cole-rose-named-new-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
