John Cox enters his second season as head men's tennis coach.
In his first season as head coach facing a schedule that included eight nationally ranked opponents, Cox led the Brewers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance and a second place finish in the Liberty League Championship. Under Cox, sophomore Andrew Guzick earned All-American honors and became the the first player in program history to reach the quarterfinals of the singles competition of the NCAA Division III Championships.
Cox brings 12 years of coaching experience at three collegiate levels to Vassar after recently serving five seasons as the men’s and women’s assistant coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, OH. At Kenyon, Cox focused on individual player development and recruiting. He earned the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2009 -- the first year the award was offered in Division III. His teams were nationally ranked five out five years and ranked in the top ten three out of five years with a program best Intercollegiate Tennis Association No. 6 National ranking. Kenyon reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Nationals twice and twice earned a berth to the Indoor Nationals, both program firsts. Cox coached one NCAA Division III Singles Champion, seven ITA All-Americans, 24 Academic All-Americans, and players with the most single-season and career singles and doubles wins in Kenyon history.
"We are very fortunate to have Coach John Cox agree to lead our men's tennis
program,” said Dr. Beverly The team is poised for great things and we firmly believe that
Coach Cox has the vision and tools to continue the program's growth".
Prior to Kenyon College, Cox coached at University of South Alabama, a nationally-ranked Division I men's tennis program.
In 1983, after graduating cum laude from Northern State University in his hometown of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Cox began his coaching career as head coach of the women's tennis team at NSU and led the program to its first District 12 Championship and two NAIA National Tournament berths. He was twice recognized as the District 12 Coach of the Year.
Cox began his tennis playing career his senior year of high school, winning the State Doubles' Championship. He went on to play No. 1 singles and doubles for NSU and was a two-time District 12 Singles and Doubles Champion, twice qualifying for the NAIA national tournament.
Cox achieved certification with the United States Professional Tennis Registry and held various positions while at the United States Tennis Association. He continued his playing career at the professional level for two years.
