PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano has named Adam Cox safeties coach. On the same staff as RU defensive assistant 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.
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.
Photo credit: Drake Athletics
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 three years and make the Big Ten Football Championship Game. UI, ranked No. 24 in the final AP Poll, placed fourth nationally in scoring defense (14.8) and passing efficiency defense (102.1), fifth in passing yards per game (170.7) and seventh in total defense (282.5) that season. Defensive back Cooper DeJean was honored as the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. DeJean was also recognized as a unanimous consensus All-American, became a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy and taken in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Iowa's defense led the way in 2022, winning eight games, including five of their final six. The unit finished in the top 12 in the nation in scoring defense (second), total defense (second), pass efficiency defense (fourth), passing yards per game (sixth), first down defense (10th), third down defense (11th) and rushing defense (12th).
The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, claiming the Big Ten West Division and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Citrus Bowl and ranked 23rd in the final national polls (AP and AFCA Coaches). Defensive back Riley Moss was honored as the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Moss, defensive back Dane Belton and linebacker Jack Campbell were all voted First Team All-Big Ten and later picked in the NFL Draft.
Iowa set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions in 2021. The defense ranked among national leaders in takeaways (30, third), defensive touchdowns scored (four, seventh), pass efficiency defense (110.5, sixth), turnover margin (0.8, 11th), rushing defense (114.4, 13th), scoring defense (19.2, 13th) and total defense (328.8, 18th).
Cox returned to Iowa after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Central Michigan for three seasons. He worked with the defensive secondary and special teams in 2018 and 2019 before coaching linebackers in 2020. The Chippewas won the MAC West Division in 2019 and competed in the New Mexico Bowl.
As a fullback for the Hawkeyes, Cox saw action in all 14 games in 2015 as the team posted a 12-2 record and won the Big Ten West Division with appearances in the Big Ten Football Championship Game and Rose Bowl. Cox was a member of the Leadership Group as a senior in 2015 and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. Cox joined the program as a walk-on after attending Stillman Valley (Illinois) High School and was put on scholarship prior to the 2014 season. He saw action in all 13 games in 2013, with three starts.
A native of Stillman Valley, Illinois, Cox earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa in health and human physiology in 2015.
Personal
Hometown: Stillman Valley, Ill.
Alma Mater: Iowa, 2015
Wife: Kenzie
Children: Sons, JJ and Jake
Coaching History
2026-present: Rutgers (safeties)
2025: Drake (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2024: Indiana State (safeties)
2021-23: Iowa (defensive assistant)
2020: Central Michigan (linebackers)
2018-19: Central Michigan (secondary/special teams)
