Softball

Jodie Cox Named Head Softball Coach
Cox brings experience to the diamond

EAGLE ROCK, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2007) - Occidental College has announced the hiring of Jodie Cox as the new head softball coach.

Cox brings with her extensive coaching and playing experience. In 2007 as the First Assistant Coach at California State University, Northridge she led her team to the NCAA Regionals. Prior to coaching at Northridge Cox spent a year at Syracuse University as the First Assistant Coach where the Orange earned 2005 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year. Following her graduation from California State University, Fullerton, in 2004, she served as a fifth-year student coach. Cox boasts eight years of experience as an instructor and has also worked at a variety of softball clinics in Southern California and New York.

As an active player Cox has accumulated numerous accolades. She is currently playing her fourth season in the Women's Professional Softball League. The left handed hurler is finishing her second season with the Philadelphia Force. During her first season of National Pro Fastpitch (2004) she won seven games with 152 strike outs, which was second among all pitchers. In 2005 she was named as an NPF All-Star with a .261 batting average, 2.07 ERA and 12 wins. Before entering the NPF Cox was a member of the 2003 USA Elite National Team that won the Canada Cup.

She played her college ball at Fullerton where she was a four-year starter for the Titans. The teams she played on collected four consecutive Big West Conference championship and appeared in the Regionals each year. She was a four-time All Big West Conference player (2000-03), two-time All-West Region player (2002-03) and a Third Team All-American (2003). She was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year following her senior season. Among her accolades from CSU Fullerton, where she holds several Top Ten records, are third all-time for wins (75). Cox has tossed seven no-hitters, including a perfect game in 2001 against Minnesota. She graduated with a degree in Kinesiology.

Additionally she has done extensive work with implementing mental training and goals development with numerous athletes and teams.

The Tigers will look to improve on a 3-21 season, which left them in the SCIAC cellar. Cox inherits a young squad that is eager to improve. The knowledge and teaching style that Cox brings to Occidental will enhance the programs growth, making the future of Oxy softball bright.

"Jodie brings a wealth of knowledge to the field and is well known throughout the region" said Interim Director of Athletics Jaime Hoffman. "Not only will she steer the softball program in a positive direction, but she will be an asset to the entire Department of Athletics with her optimistic personality, dedication and drive."