UNCP Athletics

Johnny Cox, a college coaching veteran who also has professional stops with the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars, begins his eighth season as UNC Pembroke's offensive coordinator in 2021-22.

A 25-year coaching veteran, Cox made his coaching debut as the defensive backs coach at Fort Lewis during the 1994 campaign, and then made the move to nearby Overland High School in Aurora, Colo., as wide receivers and defensive backs coach in 1995. Following graduate assistant stints at both North Dakota State (1996) and Texas (1997-98), he was named the offensive coordinator at Fort Lewis for the 1999 campaign, and then served a short term as the program’s interim head coach as well.

Following a four-year stint as an assistant coach at North Dakota State as the kickoff return coach and wide receivers coach, Cox served four seasons (2000-03) as head coach at Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie, Wisc., before making his return to the college ranks as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach at Holy Cross for the 2007 season. He made his NFL coaching debut as a part of former Southern Cal and current Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin’s defensive staff (quality control) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2008 season, and served as both the wide receivers and offensive quality control coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a part of then-head coach and current Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s staff from 2009-11.

A two-time all-American wide receiver at Fort Lewis (1990-93), Cox was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1993 and was a two-time region finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy which is given annually to the best player in NCAA Division II football. He finished his collegiate playing career with 220 catches for 3,611 yards and 33 touchdowns and averaged nearly 93 receiving yards (92.6) per game. He was also named the 1993 Fort Lewis Male Athlete of the Year and earned a spot in the Snow Bowl Division II All-Star game following the completion of his eligibility.

Cox also competed professionally with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League in 1995 after being invited to Green Bay Packers training camp prior to the 1994 season. He also served as an intern with the San Diego Chargers

Cox earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Fort Lewis in 1994 and his master’s degree in kinesiology from Texas in 2000. He also completed some of his graduate work while serving as an assistant coach at North Dakota State.

Cox is married to the former Deb Flaherty. The couple has four daughters – Reisa, Evelyn, Olivia and Kinley.