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New URI Basketball Coach

Kate Swanson

After a successful season for the Rhode Island Rams, head coach Dan Hurley is taking his coaching talents to the University of Connecticut. After six years with the Rams, Dan Hurley has been announced Uconn’s head basketball coach on March twenty-second of 2018.

As for URI, David Cox has been promoted to the head men’s basketball coach. He is now the 20th head coach in the program’s history. Cox has been apart of the URI coaching staff for four years prior to being promoted. In those four years, Cox showed leadership and passion for the game making him the most qualified for the job. He has signed a five year contract worth $700,000 per year. Since Cox has joined the coaching staff the Rams have won ninety one games.

David also has had a successful playing career. From 1991-1995 Cox was a letterwinner at William & Mary. He was also a three year starter at point guard. Cox ranks eighth in all time assists for the program. For his first four years he was coached under Chuck Swenson and then for his senior year was coached by Charlie Wollum. In Cox’s four years his most successful season was his sophomore year where his team finished tied for fourth place in the league.    

David Cox has a professional history of coaching the game. Before entering Rhode Island, Cox coached AAU basketball, which is the amatuer athletic athletic union, a multi sport organization. After coaching AAU he then moved onto college basketball. In 2006 he coached at Pittsburgh under Jamie Dixon. He then coached at Georgetown as an assistant coach from 2007-2010. After his time at both Pittsburgh and Georgetown he headed to the Rutgers coaching staff. Mike Rice was the head coach of Rutgers, but on December 13, 2012 Rice was suspended three games without pay, and he was also fined $50,000. When Rice was suspended for abusive behavior towards players Cox took over the Rutgers team and won three consecutive games with the team. Once Rice returned he stayed at Rutgers for one more year and then Dan Cox landed a job with Dan Hurley and his coaching staff.

At URI David was a key component to their recruiting process. He was able to get players like Jeff Dowtin and Fatts Russell. Both these players are huge contributors to the Rams. Former Providence College basketball standout Eric Murdock said, “Dave is a great recruiter- he is a grinder and a hustler and not going to stop to sign a player.” Aside from his recruiting ability his passion and leadership skills separate him for the rest. Since David became a member of the Rhode Island staff, the team has won a total of 91 games, which is the most in the programs history within a four-year span. All those wins ranked Rhody as number 14, the highest the program has ever been.

David Cox is now the head coach at the University of Rhode Island. He along with his Rams are excited to transition into his first season as head coach. They hope for a smooth transition and another successful basketball season.