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Chris Cox 2025 Roster Photo

Chris Cox

The Chris Cox File
Hometown: Shawnee, Okla.
Education: NOC Tonkawa '04; Oklahoma Baptist, '07; East Central '18
Coaching Background
2019-Pres. Oklahoma Baptist, Head Coach
2014-19 Oklahoma Baptist, Assistant Coach
2012-14 Vernon College, Assistant Coach
2007-12 Northern Oklahoma College, Assistant Coach
Career Records
All-Time: 133-86 (.607)
OBU Record: 133-86 (.607)
Conference: 103-74 (.581)
National Tournament: 2-2
By The Numbers
0 - Losing seasons as a head and assistant coach
5 - Winning seasons as a head coach
2 - NCCAA National Championships
6 - National Tournament Appearances
6 - Bison taken in the MLB Draft
4 - 20-plus win seasons
19 - All-American selections
71 - All-Conference selections
Championships/Honors
- 2019 GAC Tournament Champions
- NCAA Regionals appearance (2019, 2020)
- NCCAA National Champions (2017, 2018)
- NAIA World Series appearances (2014, 2015)

Chris Cox was named head coach of the Bison baseball program in June 2019.

As a head coach, Cox has mentored seven All-America selections during his four years running the Bison program. He saw his first All-American selected in 2021 as Hector Ruvlacaba earned NCBWA First Team All-America. It was 13th All-American selection overall in Cox's entire OBU tenure.

The 2024 campaign featured a trio of senior players - Alex Schroeder, Troy Shields and Isiah Lissade - help the Bison to a 32-20 record and win numerous postseason awards. Schroeder and Shields earned placement on three All-America squads while Lissade was an All-Region First Team honoree on three different lists. Plus, Schroeder became the school's and Great American Conference's all-time home runs leader (66) while Shields was named GAC Player of the Year. 

Two seasons ago in 2023, Cox's Bison had a finish to remember. OBU won 18 of its last 27 games and advanced all the way to the GAC Tournament Championship series. By year's end, the Bison posted a 32-23 record. Along the way, Cox earned his 100th career win as head coach. 

During the 2022 campaign, Dan Pruitt, Alex Schroeder and Kade Self earned All-America honors from ABCA/Rawlings,  D2CCA and NCBWA. 

The Bison finished 27-22 in 2022 and saw the program break the school's previous home run record by smacking 112 bombs over the course of the 49-game season. 

Cox was off to a red-hot start in his first season as Oklahoma Baptist head coach as he was 16-6 in 2020 including a 9-3 record in the GAC, good for first place in the conference before the season ended early due to COVID-19. 

The Bison earned their first ever national ranking as they checked in at No. 24 in the NCWBA before rising up as high as 16th.

Cox, a Shawnee native and the son of former head coach Bobby Cox, came to Bison Hill as an assistant coach prior to the 2014-15 season.

Before joining the Bison staff, Cox was the assistant coach at Northern Oklahoma College from 2007-2012, where his team led the nation in hitting in 2010. He also served as an assistant coach at Vernon College in 2013-2014.

Cox completed an associate degree from NOC Tonkawa in 2004, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies from OBU in 2007.

He played baseball at both universities, and was a member of the 2003 NOC team that reached the regional final. He batted .319 with two home runs, eight doubles, and 40 RBI during his senior season as a Bison, and was a member of the 2006 OBU team that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation.

Cox attended high school at Dale, where he was coached by OBU Hall of Famer Bruce Throckmorton. Between the fall and spring baseball seasons, he was a member of five state championships.

Stepping into the leadership role following his father's retirement after 35 seasons on Bison Hill, Cox takes the reigns of an OBU program that has thrived since making the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The Bison have earned an NCAA regional bid in each of their first two years of postseason eligibility, and also claimed the first Great American Conference Tournament title in school history in May.

Cox is married to OBU's Director of Student Financial Services, Danielle Cox. The couple is expecting their first child in July of 2024. 

Chris Cox's All-Time Collegiate Head Coaching Record

Year         Overall         Conference         Conf. Tourney         Season Notes                                                                                     
2024 32-20 18-15, 8th GAC 1st Round Troy Shields: All-GAC First Team, POTY, Three-Time All-American
2023 32-23 18-15, 6th GAC Finals Alex Schroeder: All-GAC First Team, NCBWA All-American
2022 27-22 18-15, 6th GAC Quarterfinals 3 All-America selections: Dan Pruitt, Alex Schroeder, Kade Self
2021 26-15 22-11, 3rd GAC Semifinals Hector Ruvalacaba: NCWBA First Team All-America
2020 16-6 9-3, 1st N/A Ranked No. 16, Season canceled due to COVID-19