Palm Beach Atlantic University Athletics

Palm Beach Atlantic named Cole Rose as the men's basketball coach in May 2021. In his first season at the helm, Rose continued PBA's streak of making the Sunshine State Conference tournament in 2021-22. PBA has earned a trip to the conference tournament every year since joining the SSC. PBA's Will Lee was named the first Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year in Sailfish basketball history.
 
The Sailfish took a step in the right direction in Rose's second season. PBA finished over .500 and earned the fifth seed in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament. Jalen Cooper had a breakout season, averaging 17 points per game and winning PBA's first SSC Defensive Player of the Year Award in program history. Another highlight of the season included holding Lynn to 28 percent from the field, a record for the PBA defense against an SSC opponent since joining the conference.

PBA continued its momentum in Rose's third season. Rose led the Sailfish to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003-05. The Sailfish posted their second-highest team winning percentage in PBA's d2-era. They posted their best SSC record since the 2019-20 season. PBA earned a ranking in the D2CSC South Region ranking for the first time since 2019-20. PBA posted its highest points per game (84.9 ppg) and assists per game (17.1 apg) in its D2-era. The Sailfish finished in fifth place in the SSC standings. Grant Ledford landed on the All-SSC second team, leading the Sailfish in scoring and rebounding.

The Sailfish reached new heights under Rose in the 2024-25 season. PBA recorded its best start in program history, beginning the year 15-3. The Sailfish earned its first NABC top-25 ranking in their DII-era, being ranked as high as 17th. The team's historic start was highlighted by an 87-84 win over No. 1-ranked Nova Southeastern on Jan. 8. The win goes down as the biggest-ranked win in program history. The Sailfish earned another appearance in the SSC tournament with Joshua Ward earning all-SSC second team and all-defensive team honors. PBA's team defense led the conference in points per game (74.8) and opponent field goal percentage (.425), and opponent 3-point field goal percentage (.327).

PBA turned in a historic season in 2025-26. The Sailfish recorded a 26-6 overall record and 16-4 conference record. The season set a new record for wins in PBA's DII-era and conference wins since joining the SSC. The Sailfish finished second in the SSC and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the NABC top 25. Rose led the 'Fish to their second NCAA Regional berth in program history. The regular season was highlighted by a win over No. 1-ranked Nova Southeastern on Dec. 13. Preston Le Gassick became the second Sailfish to earn first team all-SSC honors and the first to be named to the D2CCA all-region first team. Alvin Tumblin Jr. earned a spot on the all-SSC second team while Christian Kirkland earned a spot on the All-SSC defensive team. The squad boasted a 17-1 record at home in Rubin Arena. The Sailfish led the SSC in team defense, allowing 73.6 points per game and holding opponents to a league-low 41 percent from the field. The 'Fish boasted one of the most efficient offenses in the country, leading the SSC with a 49 percent team field goal percentage.

• 1 Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year honoree
• 1 Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Year Honoree
• 1 D2CCA All-Region First Team Honoree
• 1 NABC All-District First Team Honoree
• 1 All-SSC First Team Honoree
• 4 All-SSC Second Team Honorees
• 2 All-SSC Defensive Team Honoree
• 2 CSC Academic All-District Honoree
• 10 SSC Player of the Week Awards
• 3 NABC Scholar Teams
• 8 NABC Honors Court Honorees

Rose joins the Sailfish after spending the last seven years in an assistant capacity at Lee University in Tennessee, including this past season where he served as the associate coach. 

Rose was instrumental in Lee qualifying for the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament in 2019-20 & 2020-21, claiming their first regional victory this March. The Flames posted a 15-6 record this year and a 22-7 mark in the last full season in 2019-20. A noted defensive coach, he helped Lee finish each of the last four seasons in the top-four of the Gulf South Conference in opponent's scoring average. They led the league in 2018-19 and were second this past year, holding teams to 65.6 points per game.

He helped Lee in the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference when he returned to his alma mater in 2014 as an assistant coach. The Flames posted a winning record in each of the last four seasons including 22 wins in 2019-20, their most since joining Division II.

Rose began his coaching career at Trinity Christian in Dublin, Ga. in 2008-09. He would take over at Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tenn. from 2009-14 where he oversaw all aspects of the boys basketball program. Rose was named region coach of the year in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons while leading Boyd Buchanan to the school's first trip to the state tournament in over a decade.

He spent the final two years of his playing career at Lee during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons as the Flames posted a 55-12 record. He helped lead the team to the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship in 2007-08, the Elite Eight of the NAIA National Tournament, and a school record 33 wins. Rose was named to the All-SSAC team and SSAC Defensive Player of the Year as the team captain in his senior season.

• Cole earned a Master's Degree in English Rhetoric and Composition from Tennessee Chattanooga and also holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from Lee.
• He is married to Ashley Rose and the couple relocated to South Florida with their daughter, Penny and son, Jack.