Lake Superior State University proudly announces the hiring of Chelsea Cooke-Tripp as Head Volleyball Coach. A native of Norton Shores, Michigan, Cooke-Tripp comes to Sault Ste. Marie after three successful seasons as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado.

"So many things excited me about the opportunity to be at Lake State," said Cooke-Tripp. "The community, coaching staff, alumni, current players, and the willingness of upper management to consistently make improvements all appealed to me. It truly feels like a place I will be able to call home for a long time."

"Chelsea brings an outstanding combination of recruiting acumen, player development expertise, and a clear commitment to student-athlete growth," said LSSU Director of Athletics Tory Lindley. "Her values, leadership style, and vision for building a positive, competitive culture align perfectly with Lake Superior State Athletics, and we are excited to welcome her to the Laker community."

Cooke-Tripp spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Adams State University, where she coached 2025 AVCA All-American Third Team selection Hadleigh Richardson. Cooke-Tripp worked as Director of Recruiting, playing a key role in assembling the team that qualified for the 2025 RMAC Tournament. In 2024 and 2023, the Grizzlies had three All-Conference players each season. Cooke-Tripp also worked as Head Camp Director in 2024 and 2025. Under her direction, Adams State has hosted one of the largest team camps in the United States.

Cooke-Tripp's strategic vision for LSSU's Volleyball team is based on her values as a coach. "The three C's that we will build around for student-athlete support and program long-term success are Consistency, Communication and Care," she said. "We plan to implement those values by being present for each other and delivering intentional action in everything we do.  This includes player development, talent acquisition, retention, and engagement with the university and our great alums."

Cooke-Tripp coached another All-American during her time at Marietta College, prior to Adams State. Maggie Fellers earned NCAA Division III AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors in 2022. The Pioneers had four OAC All-Conference players in 2022 and another four in 2021, as the team's winning percentage rocketed from .389 to .678 during Cooke-Tripp's tenure as an assistant. The team produced 13 OAC All-Academic Honor Roll student-athletes.

Academic success remains a point of focus at LSSU as Cooke-Tripp becomes the Lakers head coach. She said, "Succeeding in the classroom, within all of Lake State's incredible academic majors, is crucial to strengthening our program."

A four-year starter at NCAA DII, Glenville State University, Cooke-Tripp had an outstanding college playing career. She played every match and was never substituted out. She also competed in three events for the Pioneers Track & Field team.

After finishing her playing career, Cooke-Tripp earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Ferris State University in 2013. She moved into the collegiate coaching ranks in 2018 as a Volleyball Graduate Assistant at Clemson University, where she earned her master's degree in athletic leadership in 2019. While working with the volleyball team, she also assisted the Director of Soccer Operations. She then moved to Marietta College from 2020 to 2023, before becoming the top Assistant Coach at Adams State.

Cooke-Tripp graduated from Mona Shores High School, earning All-State Honorable Mention honors in her junior and senior seasons.

For additional information or media requests, contact Matt Pocket, Director of Athletic Communications at mpocket@lssu.edu.