Adam Cox, a former member of the Hawkeye football team, is in his second year as a graduate assistant coach with the University of Iowa football program. He assists with the Hawkeye defense. Cox was a Hawkeye fullback during his playing career, lettering in 2013 and 2015.
The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten’s West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the nation in the final national rankings. Iowa’s streak of nine straight bowl invitations matches the longest in school history and the Hawkeyes have been in the Top 25 final rankings four straight seasons.
Iowa opened the 2021 season with six straight wins and closed the regular season with four straight victories to earn the West Division title and a berth in the league championship game for the second time since 2015. Iowa has been in the final national rankings in each of the past four seasons and has earned 19 conference wins in the past three seasons, Iowa’s highest three-year conference win total since 2002-04.
Iowa’s defense set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions in 2021. The defense ranked among national leaders in takeaways (30, third), defensive touchdowns scored (four, seventh), pass efficiency defense (110.5, sixth), turnover margin (0.8, 11th), rushing defense (114.4, 13th), scoring defense (19.2, 13th), and total defense (328.8, 18th).
Riley Moss was named the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year in the Big Ten, Iowa’s fifth honoree since 2012 (Amani Hooker, 2018, Josh Jackson, 2017, Desmond King, 2015, Micah Hyde, 2012). Moss, defensive back Dane Belton and linebacker Jack Campbell all earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, as Campbell led the nation with 143 total tackles. Defensive end Zach VanValkenburg and defensive back Matt Hankins each earned second-team all-conference recognition.
Cox returned to Iowa after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Central Michigan. He worked with the defensive secondary and special teams in 2018 and 2019 before coaching linebackers in 2020. Central Michigan won the MAC West Division in 2019 and competed in the New Mexico Bowl.
As a fullback for the Hawkeyes, Cox saw action in all 14 games in 2015 as the Hawkeyes posted a 12-2 overall record and won the Big Ten West Division. Iowa dropped a last-minute decision to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game and earned a trip to the 2016 Rose Bowl. Cox missed the 2014 season due to injury.
Cox was a member of the Leadership Group as a senior in 2015 and was awarded the Brett Greenwood Award following the season. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors as a senior as well.
Cox joined the program as a walk-on after attending Stillman Valley (Illinois) High School. He was put on scholarship prior to the 2014 season. He saw action in all 13 games in 2013, with three starts.
Cox earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa in Health and Human Physiology.
As a prep Cox earned honorable mention all-state honors as senior and was named Stateline Player of the Year while playing both fullback and linebacker. He earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior and senior and served as team captain his final season. Cox helped his prep team post a 27-1 record his final two seasons, winning a state title as a junior before falling in the championship game his senior season. His career totals include 2,979 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns in two seasons, along with 200 career tackles.
Cox was born Sept. 24, 1992, and is a native of Stillman Valley, Illinois. He is single.