Denver Cobb - Men's Basketball Coach

Denver Cobb

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
dcobb7@utm.edu

Denver Cobb is in his third season as an assistant coach on the University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball staff in 2023-24.

Cobb is no stranger to Skyhawk head coach Ryan Ridder as the two were college teammates at Embry-Riddle and served on the same staff for three years at Bethune-Cookman before coming to UT Martin.

Last season, the Skyhawks posted the second-largest turnaround in school history, piling up 19 victories - the fifth-most for the program since transitioning into the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. UT Martin tied for its third-most Ohio Valley Conference wins (10) in school history, defeating every OVC school at least once (including a season sweep of eventual NCAA Tournament participant Southeast Missouri). The Skyhawks advanced to the OVC Championship semifinals for just the fifth time in program history while equaling the most home victories (14) in the school's NCAA Division I Era.

UT Martin ranked second in school history in scoring (2,658 points) and rebounding (1,293) in 2022-23. Additionally, the Skyhawks ranked in the top-15 in NCAA Division I men's basketball and topped the OVC in defensive rebounding per game (28.7, seventh), fast break points (15.09 per game, ninth), scoring offense (80.5 points per outing, 14th) and rebounding per game (39.18, 15th). UT Martin also led the OVC in scoring margin (+5.1), field goal percentage (.459) and field goal percentage defense (.422).

The Skyhawks set a school record for most single-season All-OVC honorees (three) a season ago in Parker Stewart (first team), Jordan Sears (first team and All-Newcomer) and KJ Simon (second team). UT Martin was also one of just 12 NCAA Division I programs to generate multiple National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District recipients in 2022-23 as Stewart and Simon brought home those accolades.

In 2021-22, the Skyhawks combined for seven OVC Newcomer of the Week honorees - accounting for nearly half of the league's yearly total. The seven winners were the second-most in that category in UT Martin history, trailing only the eight honorees from 2014-15.

With a roster that did not return a single player from the previous season (marking the first NCAA Division I program to accomplish that feat since 2014), the Skyhawks faced a tough slate in 2021-22. UT Martin played a dozen contests against eventual postseason participants as eight of the Skyhawks' nine nonconference opponents posted a record of .500 or better.

Simon, who was a part of the Bethune-Cookman squad under Ridder and Cobb but sat out because of NCAA transfer rules, shined in his first season at UT Martin. The junior guard collected All-OVC first team and OVC All-Newcomer accolades, joining two-time All-American Lester Hudson as the only players in Skyhawk history to sweep those honors in the same season. Simon was the only NCAA Division I player in the nation to average at least 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, also achieving National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 18 second team recognition.

During the offseason, UT Martin was the only current OVC program to win the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2021-22 campaign. The Skyhawks posted a 3.22 Grade Point Average for the year.

While at Bethune-Cookman as an assistant and defensive coordinator from 2018-21, Cobb helped the Wildcats to 31 wins and back-to-back winning seasons in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference before the school opted out of the 2020-21 campaign. His squad in 2019-20 ranked third nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense while his 2018-19 team was No. 14 in the country in defensive points per possession. Cobb coached four separate All-MEAC performers at Bethune-Cookman, a list that includes two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Cletrell Pope.

Cobb was the assistant director of player development and assistant defensive coordinator at Texas Tech University in 2017-18, working under head coach Chris Beard. The Red Raiders went 27-10 and made an appearance in the Elite 8 during Cobb’s stop in Lubbock, finishing with a No. 6 national ranking for the best season in program history. Texas Tech won a school-record nine games against top-25 ranked squads behind a stifling defense that KenPom ranked as the third-best in NCAA Division I basketball. Beard captured Big 12 Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors as the Red Raiders touted second team All-American Keenan Evans, first round NBA Draft pick Zhaire Smith and current Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Jarrett Culver (the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft).

From 2015-17, Cobb served as an assistant coach and assistant to the athletic director at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. He aided the Battlin’ Bears to 36 victories over two seasons as his squad ranked in the top-15 in the national NAIA ranks in free throw percentage, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goals made and total rebounding. He coached three honorable mention All-Americans, two different Frontier Conference Defensive Players of the Year and eight all-conference selections at Rocky Mountain College.

Cobb additionally spent three seasons as an assistant at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., serving the 2014-15 campaign as the associate head coach. The Swedes shattered numerous school records while dialing up 39 wins in Cobb’s last two seasons. He oversaw second team All-American Idris Ibn Idris (who signed a professional contract after he was the second-leading scorer in the nation at 27.4 points per outing) as part of seven all-conference performers, including a Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Hailing from Daytona Beach, Fla., Cobb got his Division I start at the University of South Florida as a graduate assistant in 2011-12. The Bulls went 22-14 that season, finishing with their best Big East record in school history (12-6). USF equaled its most single-season victories in program history and not only reached its first NCAA Tournament since 1992 but won a pair of games against California and Temple. Cobb worked under Big East Coach of the Year Stan Heath as the Bulls set a conference record with 56.6 points allowed per contest.

Cobb’s first collegiate coaching job came at his alma mater, Embry-Riddle. As an assistant coach alongside Steve Ridder – UT Martin head coach Ryan Ridder’s father – Cobb helped pace the Eagles to a 29-5 overall record, winning the conference regular season and tournament championships. Embry-Riddle topped the country in field goal percentage defense (.375), aided by second team All-American David Butler (a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year) and another first team all-conference recipient.

After a two-time all-conference playing career, Cobb graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace studies in 2009. He then earned his Master’s degree in physical education from South Florida in 2012.

Cobb is married to the former Kristen Fairbanks of Richmond, Texas.