Robert Cox Honored by Tyler Junior College
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Hog Tennis coach Robert Cox will be inducted into the Tyler Junior College Sports Circle of Honor at a banquet, Sat. June 24, on the campus of TJC, in Tyler, Texas.
Cox began his collegiate career at TJC in 1974. The Palestine, Texas native earned All-America honors in doubles his sophomore season, playing for legendary coach Fred Kniffen. Cox was a regular in the singles lineup and partnered with Ray Anders on doubles, reaching the finals of the National Junior College doubles championships in 1976 and earning All-America honors.
Cox transferred to the University of Arkansas after his sophomore season, and as a player for the Razorbacks in 1977 and 1978, he was a part of squads that produced a 48-10 record under head coach Tom Pucci.
After earning a business administration degree in the fall of 1978, he spent a year as the head pro at Tyler’s Willow Brook Country Club. He then left East Texas to travel the ATP tennis circuit, playing in Europe. He earned a No. 6 ranking in 1979 among Texas men and he garnered more than 70 tournament victories.
Cox led the Apaches to two NJCAA national championships: a men’s team title in 1985 and a women’s team title in 1987. In addition, the women’s team collected a pair of national runner-up finishes under his leadership.
Cox was named the National Junior College Men’s Coach of the Year and the National Junior College Women’s Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1987, respectively. In his tenure, TJC captured six regional titles and produced 31 All-America selections.
In 19 seasons as the head coach at the University of Arkansas, Cox has guided the Razorbacks to 247 victories, nine NCAA Tournament appearances and 12 final top 40 rankings by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Joining Cox in 2006 class of inductees in former TJC basketball standout Bryan Miller. For information about the Sports Circle of Honor activities, or to RSVP, contact Karen Smith in the TJC Foundation office at 903-510-2382 or ksmi@tjc.edu.
