Athletics to Academics: Madeline Cooke overcomes the unexpected

Madeline Cooke, a center on the women's basketball team, has followed a path that looks a lot like a basketball game - defined by pivoting, quick transitions and a winning outlook. This spring she'll complete her MBA at Boise State and pursue a career in human resources, leveraging the team mindset she's nurtured for years.

That mindset was put to the test this year. Just five games into her final season of college play, Cooke tore her ACL.

"It was literally my worst nightmare," she said. "So much of your identity becomes the sport, and when you tear your ACL, you lose a lot of that overnight. I was forced to start considering life outside of basketball sooner than I was ready."

Head Coach Gordy Presnell noted that while the injury was a blow to the roster, Cooke's response boosted the team's culture.

"Maddie has natural leadership gifts," Presnell said. "The way she has handled this adversity is an example to her teammates of how to handle tough times in life. She has remained positive with a great work ethic, and injected enthusiasm and encouragement into our program."

When the play breaks down

This wasn't the first time Cooke had to navigate an abrupt change in plans. Growing up in Boise, she always knew she wanted to play college sports. For college, she moved to California to study kinesiology and play basketball at The Master's University.

By the spring of her senior year, Cooke was planning to pursue an MBA at Master's while playing her final year of collegiate basketball. But before her graduate studies began, the head coach unexpectedly resigned.

So, Cooke looked back toward her Idaho roots and Boise State. Cooke's team had played an exhibition game against Boise State earlier that year, and her 10 points and 13 rebounds in that game stood out.

"That game really opened the doors," Cooke said. "After our coach at Master's left, I emailed Boise State's basketball coach, and basically said, 'Do you remember me?' Then everything happened fast. In a matter of weeks, I completely changed my plans."

Building a business foundation

Beyond playing basketball as a Bronco, Boise State's Career Track MBA (CTMBA) was a big draw. Since Cooke didn't have a business degree, the program's in-person curriculum designed for students from all majors was a great fit.

Cooke used her first year at Boise State to build a strong foundation for this new chapter. She was redshirted - or didn't play - on the basketball team to preserve her eligibility while adjusting to the intensity of NCAA school play. She trained hard and dug into her CTMBA coursework.

Then came summer, and Cooke's planned internship fell through.

"Finding an internship that worked with my basketball schedule was really hard," she said. "But then St. Luke's received last minute approval for an HR position and I got hired. It was perfect timing for me."

The next play

The internship affirmed Cooke's interest in human resources, where her courtside leadership translated into a professional setting. Trisha Stevens-Lamb, senior director of the CTMBA program, saw that growth firsthand.

"Madeline's journey in the Career Track MBA program has been remarkable. From a nervous first presentation to now confidently commanding the room with her executive presence, her growth has been extraordinary. Madeline's resilience and willingness to push through challenges make her a powerful example of what leadership development truly looks like."

Although it's been tough supporting her winning team from the sidelines this season, Cooke has stayed focused on the bigger picture.

"With an injury you go from contributing to more of a support role. It's hard to feel like you're part of the team, but I'm glad to be there for my teammates," she said. "Coming to Boise State has been worth it, and I would make the choice again even if I knew it wasn't going to work out exactly how I planned."

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