Since 2015, Coach Cole has played professionally overseas, and on the Kansas City pro team, the Tornadoes.

In college he played at Youngstown State University, where his senior year stats include leading the team with 150 assists (ranked 10th on the single-season chart), scored 294 points, had 82 rebounds, and 51 steals (ranked eighth on the YSU single-season list), and scored in double figures 15 times.

As a senior at Olathe South High School DJ was named third-team all-state, first-team all-conference and first-team all-class. He averaged 13 points, six assists and four steals per game and shot 63 percent from the field as a senior, and was selected to play in the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game. DJ helped lead the Kansas All-Star Team to a 109-100 victory over the Missouri All-Star Team, scoring 17 points.