Cox named head baseball coach at Rocky Mount

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- RMHS head baseball coach Kent Cox

ROCKY MOUNT - Even though Kent Cox is pretty excited about becoming Rocky Mount's varsity head baseball coach, something even more exciting will happen to him later this week. He and his wife Emily will welcome the birth of their second child - a son.

That will be Friday. Tuesday, he showed some anxiety about the birth, but he was as cool as a cucumber when it came to talking about his new role as the Gryphons' new head coach. Rocky Mount principal Leon Farrow and athletic director Mike Gainey jointly announced his appointment.

Cox, 33, is taking over for Pat Smith, who resigned into retirement three weeks ago. Smith, 60, was head coach for seven seasons and compiled a record of 122-57 as the Gryphons' coach - including five straight 20-win seasons (102-28), four consecutive conference titles and last year's 3-A state championship.

"Coach Gainey and I talked about the kind of person we wanted to put in that position and we talked about the importance of maintaining a program that Coach (Pat) Smith worked hard to create," said Farrow, who just completed his first year at the school. "We don't just don't have a baseball team, we have a program. Those of us who are familiar with athletics know the diiference between a team and a program.

"In thinking of someone to be the new coach, we wanted someone who understands the community, understands the program and would care about it the way it needs to be cared about," he added. "We didn't lose anything in choosing Kent Cox."

"It's a great honor to be selected as head coach here," said Cox, a Tarboro native who during his high school days thought of Rocky Mount as a major rival. "I've thought of this day for a long time. Coach Gainey told me to be patient and I've been doing the best I could with our JV program. I was just getting my feet wet under Coach (Danny) Weaver. But then Smith took over and through his guidance, we got this program back to where it needed to be.

"I'm excited to get an opportunity to lead such a fine bunch of young men," Cox, who will start his 11th year with the program next season, said.

Smith promised that when he left, he wouldn't leave the cupboard bare.

And he hasn't as six starters will return from a 20-3 squad and conference co-champion. Included in that group are his top two pitchers - senior Hobbs Johnson and junior Benton Moss, who combined to go 15-2 last season.

"I really appreciate Smith doing that," said Cox of the team's talented returners. "That's something he's done everywhere he's gone. It's a great opportunity with the pitching we've got coming back with Johnson, Moss, Parker Helms ... We should be able to shift some guys around, too. We are going to win with pitching and defense. We just need to score some runs and hold people down."

RMHS' 2009 team gave up less than 1.8 runs a game and had a team ERA of under 1.4.
 
Second-year teacher Alan Hess is expected to join Cox in the dugout as an assistant coach, and or as JV coach, but he will be giving up his softball coaching duties. Tara McDonald is expected to take over the varsity softball program.

"Mr. Farrow pretty much said it all," said Gainey about Cox. "Just being under Pat Smith and the tutelage he provided meant a lot. He's worked with players and he knows them so well. What better way to continue what Smith has started than to have Kent take over."   


COX FACTS: 
 
Age: 33
  
Hometown -Tarboro  

High School - Tarboro High (played football and baseball). Father Ken was an AD at Tarboro and JV football coach  

College - Appalachian State, BS in Physical Education   JV head baseball coach for 10 years - 121-61 record - won the last three NEW 6 titles (28-2 in league play the last three seasons). Eight winning seasons, seven with 12 or more victories.  

Assistant coach to the 2008 NCHSAA 3-A state title team  

Longtime varsity and JV football assistant coach  

Led 14-Year-Old Nash Co. Babe Ruth baseball team to state title and the World Series - in Wilson, 2004. Finished third.

Coached Post 58 Junior Legion baseball for two seasons.

(Photo/David Hahula)