Timing is right for Cox, Hennessey
Former Eagle assistant making a return to become head football coach, assistant principal
LEADING THE EAGLES – Mark Cox just saw his commute to work get considerably shorter. The Hennessey resident last week was named the new head football coach of the Eagles. He’ll also be the assistant principal at the middle and high schools. Cox has be
Fromthedayhisschool’s head football coaching job came open, Jason Sternberger had someone in mind.
And he got him. Mark Cox will become the new head coach of the Eagles, Sternberger confi rmed last week, making a return to a district he served in for 10 years.
The move is pending approval of the Hennessey Board of Education, which meets Monday.
“I’ve tried to get Mark to Hennessey for a couple of years, but the timing just wasn’t right,” said Sternberger, Hennessey’s superintendent. “Mark started his educational career at Hennessey, so he proved himself years ago as a great teacher and mentor of our kids.”
Cox will replace Paul Hix, who last month accepted the head football coaching job at Locust Grove after four years in Hennessey.
Cox will also be the assistant principal at Hennessey’s high school and middle school.
He’s been the Okeene Elementary principal since 2018.
“Anyone who has ever worked with him or has had their kids taught or coached by him has nothing but praise for what he’s done,” Sternberger said.
“We always are looking for great leaders within the district and I’m excited for what he will bring to our athletic program and administrative team.”
Cox began his career at Hennessey in 2006. His teaching duties included mostly middle school and high school math, but also taught social studies.
He was an assistant coach on the high school football team for the entirety of his stay and was a part of the state title teams in 2010 and 2011.
Cox served as special teams coordinator from 2007-15 and the offensive coordinator from 2012-15.
His other coaching duties included junior high football, junior high and high school track and junior high and high school boys basketball.
Then- Superintendent Brady Barnes even called on Cox to serve as the high school girls basketball coach for a season when he was forced to make a change on opening day of 2015-16.
Cox left Hennessey in 2016 to become the head football coach at Okeene.
He served that role for two seasons before taking the principal’s position.
Although he’s continued coaching track at Okeene, Cox has only been minimally involved in the Whippet football program.
“I haven’t really coached football players directly since I got out after the 2017 season,” he said.
“I have been wanting to get back into coaching football for a while now.”
That opportunity began to present itself last month.
Despite him working in Okeene, Cox has still resided in Hennessey.
His wife, Ginger, is a part of the school’s administrative staff.
His daughter, Lauren (who turns 6 on Monday), is in kindergarten at Hennessey Elementary.
“So, my roots in Hennessey are pretty deep at this point,” he said.
“And, I want to coach football again, so I have a great opportunity to do that. Plus, I think I will be able to work well with the administrators, staff members and students at Hennessey.”
Cox said walking away from the Okeene community won’t be easy. Returning “home” will help.
“Okeene is a special place and I have enjoyed my time there. There are a lot of people in Okeene that I will miss, he said.
“But, I am excited to be going back to Hennessey. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and I’m grateful to have it.”