Football
- Title:
- Cornerbacks Coach
- Email:
- football@kent.edu
C.J. Cox was hired as the Golden Flashes' cornerbacks coach in March of 2021. He was promoted to secondary coach prior to the 2022 season.
Cox's first year at Kent State showed signs of the dynamic defense he can help create. After tallying just 10 interceptions over the past 17 games before Cox's arrival, the Flashes managed to grab 16 interceptions in the 2021 season. That ranked the unit eighth in the FBS for interceptions. Cox also served as the interim defensive coordinator against Akron, where the Flashes managed to shut out the Zips on their own turf.
Cox came to the Golden Flashes after three years as the corner backs coach at the University of Montana. With the Grizzlies, Cox was in charge of the pass defense game plan, analyzed defensive film and worked with kick and punt returners. The Grizzlies went 10-4 in 2019, their last played season and made the FCS quarterfinals.
A three-year letter winner for UNLV, Cox played running back and linebacker for the Rebels. After retiring due to injury, Cox got his start in coaching with the Rebels, first as a student assistant before becoming a graduate assistant. Cox was a part of all three phases of the Rebels program, working with special teams, offense and defense in his time with the Rebels.
Following his graduate assistantship, he was hired full-time by the Rebels as the Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting. His impact was immediate as the 2016 recruiting class is widely considered one of the best in UNLV history.
He used his recruiting success as a springboard into a full-time coaching position, working as the corner backs coach for Sacramento State for the 2017 season. He was part of a staff that engineered a five-game turnaround for the Hornets, going 7-4 and leading to his position with the Grizzlies.
Cox graduated with an undergraduate degree from UNLV in political science as well as a master's degree in public administration.
