Published: July 23, 2008 11:07 pm         

Cox set to run MSU’s new sports

Settling in to his new southern West Virginia surroundings, Bruce Cox likes the potential he sees.

Cox, 55, was tapped earlier this week to helm the new men’s and women’s track and field and cross country programs at Mountain State University. A former distance running standout at West Liberty, Cox arrives in Beckley after a year spent trying to resurrect the long-dormant cross country program at WVU Tech. Prior to that, he coached for seven years at the University of Charleston, and he also worked in the insurance industry.

MSU, which competes in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (with the exception of the men’s basketball squad), has been approved to compete for NAIA championships in both sports this school year, Cox said. However, he cautions, titles won’t be the initial focus.

“We’ll basically have a bunch of walk-ons (in the first season),” he said. “(Looking at what he thinks the team will have) the women’s team can be decent. The men will probably struggle to find five (the minimum number of runners required to post a team score). We just need to build up.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity we have to build a strong program at MSU. With the support that’s become apparent in the athletic department and throughout the institution, I’m confident that we can build competitive teams within the KIAC, the NAIA and our region at-large.”

Cox will meet with his harriers for an organizational practice on Monday, Aug. 18, but they probably won’t compete until late September at Rio Grande. The KIAC championship cross country event will be contested later in the fall at Berea, Ky.

Cox says the Cougars likely won’t host meets in the first couple of seasons — instead choosing to travel to established events — and the school is still finalizing details about where it will stage track practices.

Success can eventually be forged with the legs and lungs of local runners, the new coach feels.

“All my teams were predominantly West Virginia kids,” he said. “Look what Sean Clary (WVU women’s cross country and track coach) is doing; WVU was ninth in the nation with six West Virginia kids on the team.”

MSU is anxious to see Cox initiate the cross country and track programs, school officials say.

Of Cox, Anthony Polk, MSU assistant athletic director, said, “We’re excited he’s here, and we think he’ll do a good job. He’s got a good work ethic. Our expectations are high, and we think he’s a good fit.

“We’re moving forward in athletics,” Polk continued. “We’re taking the next step.

“Our intention is to build a really good athletic program.”

In addition to his previous coaching experience at UC and Tech, Cox brings a level of individual running success to the table. At WLSC in the mid-1970s, he turned in the following personal best track times: 800 meters (1 minute, 53.1 seconds); 1500 (3:54.0); mile (4:14.1); and 5000 (14:38.3), as well as being a three-time all-West Virginia Conference cross country competitor. He says you can expect to see him out on the roads training with his new charges.

The addition of track and cross country for both genders brings the number of intercollegiate sports offered at MSU to nine (four for men and five for women).