From 1986 to 1990, Cone was head coach of both the Mars Hill College volleyball and women's basketball teams. She was head coach of the women's basketball team at Western Carolina University from 1990 until 1993. At Saint Leo University, she was head women’s basketball coach and volleyball coach, before becoming assistant director of athletics. In 1996, Cone became the first head coach of the Samford Bulldogs women's basketball team. After five years, she was appointed associate athletics director. Since 2004, she has been athletics director for UNC Asheville.[1][4]
While at UNC Ashville, Cone has managed to get its women's golf program into the 2016 NCAA Division I, only the second sport added since 2010. She also revived the women's swimming program in 2012, the first time that the UNCA athletics department had added a sport in 20 years.[1]