Cox Transitioning Away from Head Coaching Role at Concord

ATHENS, W.Va. – Concord University head men's and women's cross country and track & field head coach Mike Cox has announced he is stepping away from coaching and transitioning into a new role within the Concord Athletic Department.

Friday's announcement marks the end of a highly-successful 25-year tenure for Cox in charge of Concord's running programs.

Over the last quarter century, Cox coached Concord's only individual national champion in Shawnee Carnett who won an outdoor national title in the 800-meter run in 2011 while also standing atop the national podium in the 800-meters in 2014. Overall, Cox coached five All-Americans on the track (Carnett – 800-meters, RJ Anderson – 60-meter dash, John Paul Blankenship – shot put, Issac Prather and Jason Weitzel – 3,000-meter steeplechase). In 2021, Prather became Concord's first All-American in men's or women's cross country.

"It has been my honor and privilege to be part of this great institution for the last 25 years," Cox said. "The growth that the cross country and track & field programs have undergone in that time has been truly special to step back and watch. What I'm most proud of is not only the accomplishments the athletes have had at Concord, but the maturation of the athletes in competition and watching them succeed after receiving their diploma.  

Cox had the privilege of coaching three men's cross country teams that qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship Meet. The first instance came in 2016 after one of Cox's five conference championships. The Mountain Lions returned to the national stage in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022.

During his time as the men's and women's cross country coach, the native of nearby Princeton, West Virginia won a total of seven conference championships. Cox led Concord to its first men's cross country title in 2004—the first in nearly 60 years. Concord returned to the top of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) in 2007. But, the most dominant run for CU came from 2015-17 when the men's cross country program captured three consecutive conference championships.

"I would like to thank Mike Cox for his service to the Concord University Athletic Department and the Concord cross country and track & field programs," former Concord Athletic Director and current CU Athletic Department consultant Kevin Garrett said. "He put his heart and soul into this school and coached every athlete like they were his own children."

The women's cross country program, under Cox's leadership, won its first conference championship history in 2010, and inspired by a senior-laden group in 2018 took home an MEC Championship.

In all, a total of 11 athletes have earned all-region on the cross country course under Cox, including Weitzel (2015-18) and Logan Zuchelli (2021-24) being named all-region four times, and Emily Wallace pulling off the feat three times for the women's cross country team (2021-23). Additionally, Prather (2021, 2022) and Weitzel (2018) were named Atlantic Regional Runners of the Year.

"Coach Cox has great passion for the running sports and Concord University, and that has been exhibited over the last 25 years throughout the athletes he has coached," Concord Co-Athletic Director Luke Duffy said. "He has built Concord into one of the most-respected cross country and track & field programs in the MEC, and we look forward to the future of the program."

Along with the five All-Americans that Concord has seen on the oval and in the field, the track & field success has been boundless for the Maroon and Gray under Cox's leadership.

A total of 57 current and former Concord athletes have been conference champions in either individual events and relays between the indoor and outdoor seasons under Cox's guidance. Four athletes have been named conference athlete of the year: Blankenship (2004 and 2006), Carnett (2011), Prather (2023) and Weitzel (2018). And in 2017, Jonathan Gore earned MEC High Point/MVP, the second in program history. Cornell Core was the CU's first conference MVP, taking the honor in 2009.

"Each athlete I've had in my tenure at Concord, I've considered them to be my own children", Cox said. "But I'm looking forward to spending time with my own children, wife and my extended family. I'm excited to watch the next steps of Concord University Cross Country and Track & Field."

"The bond and friendships I've made with my athletes is something that I'll always cherish forever."

Over his 25 seasons at Concord, Cox has been named MEC or WVIAC Coach of the Year a total of 12 times between the four running sports. His highest honor as a coach came in 2016 when he was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year.

Concord will begin a national search for the next coach of the Concord cross country and track & field programs.