Adam Cox

Biography

Adam Cox is in his first season as the Scarlet Knights' safeties coach in 2026. On the same staff as RU rush ends coach Joe Woodley coordinating a top-10 defense for Drake in 2025, the Illinois native was a letterwinner at Iowa and owns a combined three appearances in the Big Ten Football Championship Game as a player and coach. He also brings experience from Indiana State and Central Michigan. DRAKE • Helping Drake to an outright Pioneer Football League (PFL) championship this past season, Cox was part of a team that won eight games and secured a bid to the FCS Playoffs. The Bulldog defense held PFL opponents to 11.0 points per game and 287.6 yards per game, ranking first and second in the league. Nationally, the unit ranked sixth in scoring defense (17.7), sixth in red zone defense (.714), 14th in total defense (323.3), 22nd in sacks (2.5), 26th in passing defense (192.3), 27th in rushing defense (131.0) and 27th in first downs defense (215). • Linebacker Sean Allison was named PFL Defensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-America after leading the league and ranking sixth at the FCS level with 10.5 tackles per game. IOWA • Prior to serving as safeties coach for Indiana State in 2024, where he mentored honorable mention all-conference safety Maddix Blackwell, Cox spent three seasons (2021-23) at his alma mater, Iowa, on Broyles Award winner Phil Parker’s defensive staff. • In 2023, the Hawkeyes won 10 games to capture the Big Ten West Division for the second time in t

Career Path