The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

July 23, 2008

Cox set to run MSU’s new sports

By Steve Keenan

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).

Text Only
Sports
  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010

  • BNI will usher in mat season

    This time around, the Beckley Newspapers Invitational will have a decidedly more local flavor.

    December 1, 2010

  • Huggs likes looks of young Noreen

    Perhaps it was the season. Whatever it was, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins went straight to the pie.
    Well, the figurative pie.
    Huggins had just watched his team beat Virginia Military Institute 82-66 in front of 12,367 fans at the Charleston Civic Center Saturday.

    December 1, 2010

  • Oak Hill places 3 on AA

    Whether it was opposing defenses or illness, nothing stopped Charleston Catholic’s Tom Trupo for long.

    December 1, 2010

  • Spartans open with victory

    Turnovers produce points and the Greenbrier East girls basketball team collected plenty of each en route to an 81-43 season-opening victory against Bluefield on Tuesday night.

    December 1, 2010