(Editor’s note: University of Montana media release)
MISSOULA — Montana head coach Bobby Hauck has added former Sacramento State cornerbacks coach C.J. Cox to his staff to coach the same position for the Grizzlies. The two coaches have a long history together, with Cox having played for, then coached under Hauck at UNLV.
“C.J. is a terrific young football coach. I’ve known him since the mid-point of his college career and got a chance to be his boss as a graduate assistant and personnel coach,” said Hauck. “He is a quality person, and his experience in Texas, Nevada, and in Sacramento will help us with recruiting and game planning down the road.”
A native of Garland, Texas, Cox played for three years at UNLV before retiring due to injury. He then worked as a student assistant before spending three years as a graduate assistant for the Rebels.
Cox officially began his coaching career in 2016 as the recruiting coordinator and director of player personnel at his alma mater. He then moved on to Sac State to become the Hornet’s cornerback coach in 2017.
“I consider Coach Hauck as one of my mentors, and I have tremendous respect for him,” said Cox. “It is good to be back working with him because I know what I am getting myself into. I know he is a good coach and an even better person.”
Cox’s connections with the Grizzly program don’t stop there, either. He was recruited to play running back at UNLV, and, as a player, spent time working with current Grizzly offensive line coach Chad Germer. Cox also served as the graduate assistant for new Montana offensive coordinator Timm Rosenbach during his time as the OC at UNLV.
“I know those coaches like the back of my hand,” said Cox. “It is awesome to be back with them.”
At Sac State, Cox tutored All-Big Sky cornerback Dre Terrell, who led the league in interceptions last fall with five and was third in passes defended (1.27 per game). Terrell was also named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week in mid-September. With the help of Cox, the Hornets posted the fourth-best total defense in the Big Sky in 2017 under Big Sky Coach of the Year Jody Sears.
A three-year letter winner for the Rebels, Cox began his career as a running back and amassed 420 yards rushing before swapping over to defense. Cox ranked as the nation’s No. 76 safety prospect by Scout coming out of high school and received scholarship offers as a defensive back from programs such as Wisconsin, Nebraska and Oklahoma State.
He earned Academic All-Mountain West honors in 2008 as a political science major with aspirations of joining the FBI.
