Drew Cole enters his fourth season with the Redbirds in 2025-2026. Cole oversees post development for the Redbirds, where he has guided four Illinois State players to MVC honors during his tenure.
Addison Martin landed on the All-MVC Newcomer team while Doneelah Washington earned All-MVC Freshman team honors under Cole's leadership during the 2024-25 campaign. Martin led the MVC in field goal percentage in Valley play, shooting 58.7% from the field against MVC foes. She shot 58.3% from the floor during the overall campaign, which ranks third in program history. Martin was a three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week selection last season for Illinois State.
Washington landed on the All-MVC Freshman team and earned three MVC Freshman of the Week honors as a rookie in 2024-25. She tallied 34 blocks, which tied for 10th among all DI freshmen and ranked second in program history for a Redbird freshman. It was the most blocks by a Redbird freshman since 1987. Washington had 25 blocks in MVC play, which led all freshmen in the league and ranked fifth among all Valley players. She grabbed a mark of 152 total rebounds, a mark that is tied for fifth in program history for a freshman. Washington is the first freshman in program history to post 30+ blocks and 150+ rebounds in their freshman campaign.
DeAnna Wilson climbed to 7th in program history in career scoring (1,545 points) and 2nd in program history in career rebounding (867 rebounds) during her two years under Cole's tutelage. She was an All-MVC Second Team selection in 2023 and 2024 and earned three MVC Player of the Week honors during the 2023-2024 campaign. Wilson graduated as Illinois State's all-time leader with 314 career offensive rebounds and is one of two players in program history, along with Women's basketball Hall of Famer Cathy Boswell, to score 1,500 career points and grab 800 career rebounds.
Meanwhile Kate Bullman climbed to second in program history with 191 career blocks. She capped off her collegiate career with career-best marks of 7.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game under Cole's leadership. Bullman totaled a career-high 68 blocks, leading Illinois State and ranking second in the MVC. She led Illinois State in the block category for the fourth-straight season, while her 68 blocks rank fourth on Illinois State's single-season blocks list. Bullman is the first player in program history to tally 50+ blocks in three consecutive seasons.
Illinois State earned a fifth-straight postseason appearance and a third straight 20-win season in 2024-25, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4. Illinois State posted a 24-13 record and a 14-6 mark in MVC play, earning the program's fourth WNIT bid over the last four seasons.
The Redbirds posted an historic 2024-25 campaign on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois State ranked fourth in NCAA Division I and led the MVC with a 48.8 percent team field goal percentage, a mark that ranks third in program history. The Redbirds also ranked fourth in NCAA DI shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc, leading the Valley and ranking third in program history. The Redbirds set a program record with 252 total three pointers. Illinois State ranked 32nd in NCAA DI averaging 76.0 points per game and scored a mark of 2,812 total points during the 2024-25 campaign that set a program record and ranks fourth in MVC history.
The Redbirds earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance and second-straight 20-win season in 2023-2024. Illinois State finished with a 22-12 overall record and 13-7 mark in MVC play while earning a WNIT bid for the third time in the last four seasons. The Redbirds advanced in the post season for the first time since 2013 with a Second-Round WNIT win over Charleston at CEFCU Arena, where the Redbirds hosted postseason basketball for the first time since 2013.
In his first season with the Redbirds, he helped Illinois State to 24 wins, including 17 in MVC play, and an MVC Regular Season championship for the first time since 2010.
Cole joined the Redbirds after a four-year stint at Abilene Christian. In his role with the Wildcats, Cole assisted with post development and was also heavily involved with scouting and recruiting. Cole also coordinated team travel facilities usage as well as being the academic liaison.
A 2020 WBCA 30 Under 30 honoree, Cole played an integral role in helping the Wildcats win the school's first-ever Southland Conference Tournament Championship to earn a trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament where they took on eventual 2019 National Champion Baylor in Waco, Texas.
Prior to his time at Abilene Christian, Cole served as a graduate assistant with Austin Peay women's basketball for the 2016-17 season before being promoted to the Director of Basketball Operations position for the 2017-18 season.
As Director of Basketball Operations for the Governors, Cole was responsible for planning, recruiting and travel. Additionally, he managed the student-athlete's daily calendars and supervised the team's film exchange and breakdown.
A 2016 graduate of Aurora (Ill.) University, Cole began his coaching career as a student assistant for the Spartans women's basketball program. During his time with Aurora, he was a part of a staff that helped the program reach the conference championship for the first time in 14 seasons.
