Chris Cole joined Phil Martelli Jr.'s staff as an assistant coach in April of 2025 following a successful run at Bryant that included a pair of conference championships.
He spent seven seasons on staff at Bryant alongside Martelli, first as an assistant coach from 2018-24, then as associate head coach during the 2024-25 season, when the Bulldogs captured the America East regular season and tournament championships, as well as an NCAA Tournament berth.
Cole played an integral role in building Bryant's 2024-25 club that won 23 games and finished 14-2 in conference play, including recruiting and developing America East Player of the Year Earl Timberlake and Newcomer of the Year Barry Evans.
He also helped the Bulldogs win their first-ever NEC Regular Season and Tournament titles and make their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championships in 2022. Bryant has evolved into one of the nation's most feared offenses thanks to Cole's #SkillWorkKillWork mantra. Bryant's player development has been showcased throughout Cole's tenure as the Bulldogs have improved each and every year.
That improvement has been showcased over the years as dozens of players have seen their averages increase while working with Cole. In 2023-24, Sherif Gross-Bullock, Earl Timberlake, Rafael Pinzon, Daniel Rivera and Connor Withers all enjoyed one of the best years of their careers. SGB and Timberlake were named First Team All-America East, while Pinzon averaged more than 7.0 ppg more, Rivera finished with nine double-doubles and Withers returned to his freshman year form.
It was also showcased in 21-22 as Peter Kiss went from 16.2 ppg the year prior to leading the country with 25.2 ppg. Charles Pride also saw a huge uptick in scoring, bumping his scoring from 8.2 as a freshman to 17.7 as a junior. Both Kiss and Pride earned All-NEC honors in 21-22. Several other Bulldogs have excelled in Bryant's offense, as transfers Adham Eleeda and Greg Calixte both averaged career highs in points per game in their lone season in 21-22. Bryant finished 21-22 ranked 28th nationally in scoring and 18th in offensive rebounds per game.
The Bulldogs ranked in the top five nationally in tempo and fourth nationally (83.8 ppg) in scoring in 20-21. Bryant had two players earn All-NEC honors, while Peter Kiss earned both All-NEC First Team and USBWA All-District I honors in 20-21. The 2020-21 season also saw the Black and Gold advance to the Northeast Conference Championship for the first time in program history. Bryant also received a postseason bid for the just the second time in DI program history, competing in the CBI.
Cole was critical to Bryant's recruiting efforts, helping the Bulldogs land several key recruits during his seven-year tenure.
Cole arrived in Smithfield after spending five seasons as the head coach of Rock Creek Christian Academy in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Rock Creek recorded a Washington Post top-five ranking in four of Cole's five seasons at the helm and cracked the USA Today Top 25 in 2017. Cole was four-time CBAA Coach of the Year for a team with three CBAA championships, three Maryland state runner-up seasons and four CBAA Player of the Year honorees.
A native of Alexandria, Va., Cole began his playing career at Hartford in the 2005-06 season. He would transfer to New Mexico State to continue playing for the Aggies before earning his bachelor's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills.
