Soccer Coach Paul Cox Earns Contract Extension Through 2028 Season

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Leading Morehead State Soccer to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and building a sustainable winning tradition has led Eagle soccer head coach Paul Cox to earning a contract extension through the 2028 season.

Cox, who led the Eagles to nine victories and the appearance in the OVC Championship match in his first season as a head coach, has been solidified for four more seasons. He guided the Eagles to a 9-8-6 record in 2024 and the program's second straight NCAA Tournament berth. The Eagles won two matches in the OVC Tournament and advanced past the No. 1 seed Tennessee Tech on its home turf.

"My family and I are really happy to be committing our future to Morehead State University, and I want to extend my continued gratitude to (Director of Athletics) Kelly Wells for this opportunity to lead this great program," said Cox. "Morehead State Soccer is in really good shape coming on back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tournament and back-to-back OVC Championship appearances. I am looking forward to propelling this program even further."

Cox's team set a program record for most matches played with 23 in 2024 and set the program standard for best goals against average at 1.12. Seven shutouts marked the third most in a single season in school history.  The 95 corner kicks generated represented the fourth highest total for a season in MSU history. MSU also had a program best for most successful road record and tied the milestone for road unbeaten streak.

"Coach Paul Cox has done a remarkable job in his first year at the helm of our soccer program, leading the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance and setting a strong foundation for continued success," said Wells. "His commitment to excellence, leadership, and the development of our student-athletes both on and off the field is evident.  We are thrilled to extend his contract and look forward to seeing the program thrive under his guidance for years to come."

Sophomore forward Hedda Ornberg had one of the most productive seasons in program history, leading the conference with 10 goals scored. She was one of five Eagles who earned All-OVC awards.

This season, three of his student-athletes also earned Academic All-District from the College Sports Communicators organization.

Cox came to Morehead State following four seasons at former OVC school Murray State. There, Cox helped spearhead the move to the Missouri Valley Conference and guided the Racers to posting a 19-11-8 conference record in his four seasons. In the last two seasons in the MVC (2022, 2023), Cox recruited and coached 15 student-athletes who earned all-conference. Overall, 27 student-athletes earned all-conference in the OVC and MVC in his four seasons, including the 2020-21 OVC Defensive Player of the Year. 

Cox, a native of Andover, England, and his wife Tiffany have two children - daughter Frankie and son Archie.