May 20, 2026 | Waxahachie, TX — Nelson University Track & Field assistant coach David Cox has been named the USTFCCCA South Central Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, recognizing a dominant season that helped power the Lions to the Sooner Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships title.

Cox played a major role in one of the strongest conference championship performances in program history, coaching Nelson athletes to contribute 79 team points toward the Lions' SAC Outdoor Championship victory. His event groups consistently delivered elite performances across the meet, highlighted by a commanding 1-2-3 sweep in the pole vault.

The Lions also produced multiple runner-up finishes under Cox's guidance, including standout performances in the horizontal jumps and combined events. Nelson athletes finished 2-3 in the long jump and 2-4 in the decathlon, showcasing the depth and versatility of the program on the conference stage.

The regional honor, presented by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), is awarded to the top assistant coaches across the NAIA landscape and reflects the tremendous growth and competitive rise of Nelson Track & Field.

Cox's leadership and technical expertise have helped elevate the Lions into one of the premier programs in the conference while continuing to build a championship culture inside Nelson Athletics. 

Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.