Marv and Drew Cook: The only father-son Gazette Athlete of the Year duo

Few fathers and sons can match the athletic success of Marv and Drew Cook.

Marv was a multi-sport standout at West Branch, playing football, basketball and baseball. Drew was an all-state quarterback and basketball player for Iowa City Regina, helping his dad’s Regals teams win five straight state titles. Both went on to play University of Iowa football.

After Drew’s senior year, Marv admitted who was the better athlete.

“I’m going to be honest,” Marv said. “He is a way better kid than I ever was and he is an extremely better athlete than I ever was as well.”

The Cooks are still the only father-son combo to be named The Gazette’s Athlete of the Year, the annual award given to the top area senior male and female athletes since 1983. Marv shared the honor with Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Al Lorenzen in 1984, while Drew was the outright winner in 2015.

“I remember it being a special experience for me,” Drew Cook told The Gazette in a phone interview from his home in Tennessee. “It was incredible to be on that list of athletes. I’m glad to share that with my dad.”

Marv Cook was an all-state quarterback in 1982 and 1983, representing the Bears in the 1984 Shrine Bowl. The Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Famer earned All-America honors as a two-time All-Big Ten tight end for the Hawkeyes, earning team Most Valuable Player honors twice.

The New England Patriots drafted Cook in 1989, leading to a seven-year NFL career, including stops with the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams. He amassed 808 receiving yards on 82 catches with three touchdowns in 1991, resulting in All-Pro honors and his first of two straight Pro Bowl selections.

The elder Cook embarked on a broadcast career, providing commentary for Big Ten games before a stellar career as Regina football coach. He coached the Regals to seven state titles in 14 seasons with six straight from 2010-15. Regina managed three runner-up finishes during Cook’s tenure as well.

Drew even followed his father into coaching, returning to Regina and serving as an assistant. He was part of the 2020 state title staff with his younger brother, Ashton, at QB. Drew has inquired about returning to the sidelines.

“I’ve looked into getting back into coaching,” Drew said. “It’s something I’m passionate about doing.”

Drew contributed to the Regals’ title haul. He was selected as the Class 1A captain of the Iowa Newspaper Association all-state team. He set a Regina record with 50 TDs as a senior (31 passing, 16 rushing, three receiving). Drew passed for 5,460 career yards, completing 66 percent of his passes, and rushed for 1,146 his final two seasons.

On the basketball court, he earned first-team all-state honors as a senior, averaging 22.1 points and almost nine rebounds per game. Drew was a second-team pick as a junior, going for 25 points and seven boards a contest.

The younger Cook has followed his dad into the professional world. He also works in the financial and investment industry in his new home of Nashville.

“It’s great,” Drew said. “There’s always something to do.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com