Now entering her fifth season as head coach for the Samford Women's Basketball team, Janet Cone has continued to build a program that emphasizes on both creativity and a hard work ethic.
Hired in the fall of 1996 as the first head coach for Samford women's basketball, Cone immediately began recruiting, scheduling and putting together a staff in anticipation of the Bulldogs' inaugural season.
Prior to her arrival at Samford, Cone served as the first full-time Assistant Athletics Director, plus head women's basketball and volleyball coach at St. Leo College in St. Leo, Fla. Starting in 1994, Cone had an immediate impact as she directed the volleyball team to its most victories since 1987 and the basketball tied a school-record for most conference wins in a season. In her second season, the basketball team continued to progress both on and off the court, tying the school-record for most victories in a season and posting a team cumulative grade point average over 3.0.
Cone's most successful stint as a college coach came at Mars Hill (N.C.) College where she took over a program that had averaged less than 10 wins per season for nearly 20 years. During her four year tenure at Mars Hill, Cone led the basketball team to winning seasons each year, including a 24-7 record in 1988-89. While at Mars Hill, she spearheaded much of the work for the school's move from NAIA to Division II status. Cone led the school to an 81-57 record in volleyball during the same timespan. With her success at Mars Hill, Cone then moved to Western Carolina University where she took over the task of rebuilding the women's basketball team. In her three years at WCU, Cone's squad made improvement both on and off the court.
A native of Summerville, S.C., Cone began her coaching career at Gilbert (S.C.) High School where she coached basketball, track and field and tennis from 1979-86. She guided Gilbert's girl's basketball program, which had not experienced a winning season in 25 years, into a consistent playoff contender. She also coached the track and field to five conference titles and the school's first-ever state championship in any sport. In addition, her tennis teams posted a composite 33-0 record.
Cone graduated Magna cum laude from Furman University in 1978, earning her degree in Health and Physical Education. While at Furman, she lettered in basketball, softball and field hockey. She later earned a Masters Degree in Physical Education from the University of South Carolina in 1986, completing her studies with a perfect 4.0 average.
She is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. She is also active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Project "Hoop" and has over 20 years experience as a head coach with basketball camps and clinics.
