Gamecocks assistant makes list of ‘rising stars’ in SEC coaching circles
Joe Cox’s arrival in Columbia took a little extra time. The trusted lieutenant of Mike Bobo was with him at Georgia (as a player), Colorado State and had to wait for an opening at South Carolina, even shifting focuses after arriving on campus.
But a list from AL.com had him considered a rising star in the SEC coaching ranks.
The outlet’s Matt Zenitz spoke to a range of voices and complied a list of top SEC coaches under 40. The group included Cox, now the Gamecocks wide receiver coach. The former Georgia quarterback bought a highly detailed approach to the Gamecocks program and is still relatively early in his coaching career.
“A former starting quarterback at Georgia, Cox is now back in the SEC as a coach,” Zenitz wrote. “After getting his start in coaching as a high school assistant in his home state of North Carolina, Cox joined Mike Bobo’s staff at Colorado State as a graduate assistant in 2015. One year later, Cox was promoted to tight ends coach. Now, the 33-year old is back working with Bobo at South Carolina.”
Cox was hired as South Carolina’s tight ends coach amid some shifts in the coaching staff. After Bryan McClendon left for Oregon, Cox was shifted over to wide receivers.
He’s been tasked with developing a group that has no proven options beyond senior Shi Smith.
In Fort Collins, Cox helped develop Dalton Fackrell and Cameron Butler at tight end. He took over a perpetually strong receiver group, and helped Warren Jackson to a career season (77 catches, 1,119 yards) and brought in Dante Wright, who delivered 805 receiving yards and 214 more rushing as a true freshman.
At UGA, Cox waited his turn behind Matthew Stafford. He started for one season and threw for 2,584 yards, 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as a senior.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 2:23 PM.
