Email
Print
News & Events
Department News
Cox Hired to Lead Men’s Basketball Program
May 11, 2012
Thomas University Athletic Director Mike Lee has announced the hiring of Stephen Cox as Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
Cox will lead the Night Hawks as they return to TU as an intercollegiate sport for the first time since the 2000-01 school year. Most recently, Cox was an assistant coach at NCAA D2 Georgia Southwestern University where he helped guide the Hurricanes to the first appearance by any GSW athletic program in the National Tournament. In 2011 Georgia Southwestern captured the Peach Belt Western Division title. Prior to GSW, Cox served as an assistant at Savannah State University, Mercer University and Sante Fe Community College.
As a player, Cox played two seasons at Middle Georgia College prior to transferring to Clayton State University where he was a part of a Top 20 program and held the honor of carrying the team’s highest grade point average. At MGC he was a two year starter and team captain, helping Middle Georgia to a state championship in his sophomore year while finishing the season in the Top 10 of the GJCAA in Field Goal Percentage.
The native of Peach Tree City, GA, holds a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology & Curriculum from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelors of Business Administration & Marketing from Clayton State University. He also holds an Associate’s Degree from Middle Georgia College.
TU men’s basketball program will open play in the Fall of 2013.
The Sun Conference Announces the Addition of Thomas
July 6, 2011
(Courtesy of The Sun Conference Sports Information Office)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Sun Conference has announced that Thomas (Ga.) has been approved for league membership. Located in Thomasville, Ga., Thomas will begin conference competition in 2012-13. The addition of Thomas will bring the number of schools in The Sun Conference to 12.
"On behalf of the 11 members of The Sun Conference, we are thrilled to welcome Thomas University to our conference,” incoming Sun Conference Commissioner Mark Pope stated. “This addition will allow us to develop a divisional format in several of our sponsored sports that should help to decrease travel costs and missed class time.
“I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the significant efforts by [former TSC Commissioner] Rob Miller in achieving this accomplishment. I appreciate all of Rob's hard work to find a great institution for us."
"Thomas University is proud to enter the Sun Conference,” Thomas President Dr. Gary Bonvillan said. “Our competitive teams have earned their place among some of the top contenders in NAIA. Transition from independent status to conference membership will also position Thomas for a much more favorable schedule of play for many years to come. Our student athletes and fans will benefit a great deal from this move."
Thomas was founded in 1950 and has an enrollment of 1,030. Thomas first began intercollegiate athletic competition in 1994 and has competed as an independent school in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for the last 16 years. The Night Hawks will field a team in six of the league’s 15 sports, including baseball softball, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s soccer. Thomas will add men’s and women’s swimming and men’s and women’s cross country in the fall of 2012 and have plans to add men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball sometime thereafter.
As an independent, the Night Hawks have made one national tournament appearance each in women’s soccer (2003) and women’s golf (2010) and finished as the women’s golf Association of Independent Institutions champion in the spring of 2010 and was the AII women's soccer runner-up in the fall of that same year.
The softball program has also enjoyed a great deal of success. The Lady Night Hawks, who have made four national tournament appearances (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007), capped off their 2004 campaign by winning the NAIA National Championship.
"We are excited about the prospect of joining the Sun conference,” Thomas Athletic Director Mike Lee commented. “As we searched for a Conference affiliation the Sun Conference seemed like the right fit for the future of our Athletic Department. It is a great conference with an outstanding reputation both on and off the field, we look forward to competing against the strong field of competitors that the conference has to offer."
Originally formed in March 1990 as the Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (FIAC), The Sun Conference was established as a conference for small independent institutions within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Heading into its 22nd season of competition, The Sun Conference continues to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic conferences in the NAIA. The league sponsors championships in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and field and women’s volleyball.
The Sun Conference Web Page - CLICK HERE
