Sand Creek boys basketball names Cox as head coach

SAND CREEK – Cory Cox is returning to Sand Creek to become the boys varsity basketball coach of the Aggies.

Cox was affirmed Monday by the Sand Creek board of education for the position. He takes over for Joe Long, who resigned in March.

“I guess you could call it a dream job,” Cox said. “Ever since I played there, I’ve thought about this job. When I was coaching JV boys and girls, I thought about one day becoming the boys varsity coach. I’m excited about it.”

Cox has coached at various levels at Sand Creek and other locations for more than 20 years. He was the varsity girls basketball coach of the Aggies from 2005 to 2008, was varsity boys basketball coach at Lenawee Christian from 2010 and 2012 and coached boys and girls at the JV level at Sand Creek as well.

"We are extremely excited to have Cory at the helm of the boys' basketball program,” said Sand Creek athletic director Robert Wright. “Cory was a highly competitive and very successful student-athlete. We are confident his coaching philosophy and core values are consistent with the long-standing traditions and values of Aggie athletics.”

Cox has been a volunteer assistant within the boys' basketball program for the past four years.

“When Joe (Long) became head coach, he asked me if I would help coach and I said yes,” Cox said. “I enjoy working with the kids. They know me and what I’m about and expectations. I’m excited. I can’t wait to get started.’

Cox is a 1993 Sand Creek graduate. He played high school basketball for Charlie Risner and helped the Aggies reach the Class D state championship game in 1992. He also played football and ran track for Ernie Ayers, meaning he played for two of the most successful coaches in county history.

“If I could be half as successful as those guys, I’d have a stellar career,” Cox said.

In two seasons at LCS, Cox led the Cougars to 30 wins and a district and regional title.

The Aggies' girls went 48-20 in his three seasons, winning the TCC title in 2005 and back-to-back district titles in 2006-07 and 0708.

He left coaching briefly when his kids were young and coached them in youth sports.

“I have no regrets with how my coaching career has gone,” he said. “I’ve had a blast everywhere I’ve coached.”

Long coached four years at Sand Creek, going 13-48.

His first order of business is to meet with the team, solidify his staff and get a summer schedule together. He said the Pandemic the past couple of years has gotten kids away from the gym.

“It’s important for that time together, to get in the gym and start working,” he said. “I think kids have missed that. There hasn’t been a lot of it the last couple of summers.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Cox takes over Sand Creek boys basketball program