Army West Point Athletics
Dylan Cox: Servant’s Heart
March 01, 2016 | Men's Basketball
This feature appears in the 2016 Patriot League men's basketball tournament program. No. 4 Army hosts No. 5 Colgate on Thursday night at Christl Arena.
The quarterback of the Army West Point men's basketball team could have easily been wearing football cleats throughout his college experience. Instead, the two-sport athlete from Cedar Park, Texas, a state known for its love of the action on the gridiron, chose a pair of black Nike Hyperdunk basketball sneakers and desert tan Army combat boots.
At 6-foot-4 and 191 pounds, Dylan Cox fits the mold of a Division I wide receiver, but also fits perfectly as the point guard for head coach Zach Spiker's up-tempo offensive system on the hardwood. The all-district wideout had opportunities to continue playing football at the next level, but gravitated toward his love of basketball and ultimately chose to spend five years at the greatest leadership development institution in the world, the United States Military Academy at West Point.
"I think it suits our team," Cox said of Army's offensive game plan. "When we push the ball, we are moving so fast and there are a lot of options for me to find guys like Kyle Wilson, Tanner Plomb, Kevin Ferguson and Larry Toomey when they are in positions to score."
The Black Knights are among the nation's leaders in offensive tempo and average possession length, and are second in the Patriot League in points per game.
Wilson is Army's fourth all-time leading scorer, Plomb leads the Patriot League in scoring this season, Ferguson is the Academy's all-time leader in field goal percentage and Toomey is the only member of the class to play in more games than Cox. Cox has missed only two games in his career, despite a laundry list of injuries, many of which are unknown to outside observers of the Army program.
Cox's start to the 2015-16 season was delayed due to a concussion, which forced him to watch Army wins over Ferrum and Binghamton. Cox returned to action against Fairleigh Dickinson and handed out career-best 11 assists in a win over the Knights, before equaling his personal assist mark in Army's next game at George Washington. His return brought a familiarity back to the point guard spot for the Black Knights as they finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record, including a win over MAAC-favorite Monmouth on Dec. 28.
It's no coincidence that the resurgence of Army basketball and Cox's arrival on post go hand-in-hand. Cox and his seven classmates, five of whom attended the United States Military Academy Prep School with him in 2011-12, have achieved success not seen since Army Sports Hall of Famers Kevin Houston '87, Gary Winton '78 and Mike Krzyzewski '69 sported an Army basketball uniform.
Army has won at least 15 games in each of Cox's four seasons, something that hasn't happened since the program's only other four-year run of at least 15 victories from 1920-24. Their 18 wins this year, including a program-record 11 road victories, are the most since 1977-78.
The program achieved its first winning season since 1984-85 during Cox's freshman season. He started every game for that team, which went 16-15 and finished fourth in the Patriot League standings.
As a class, Army has already achieved its most wins over a four-year stretch since 1979, which was Coach Krzyzewski's final winning season as the head coach at West Point.
When asked about what he enjoyed most about his 2016 classmates, Cox immediately pointed to their unselfishness. "When you have a group like this with guys who don't worry about themselves or their numbers, and it is all about winning, that's what makes it really fun. We have guys who are willing to do whatever it takes for the guy next to them in order to get a win."
One of those teammates is senior Billy Morrison, Cox's closest friend on the team described the bond they and their teammates share as 'special,' and spoke highly of his leadership qualities.
"Dylan is the type of leader who earns the trust of others to follow him," Morrison said. "And, he enables them to be better leaders. He's the kind of leader you would take a bullet for because you know he'd take one for you."
Morrison's words are echoed by his teammates' actions, who choose their team captain at the start of each preseason. Cox is now in his third season as a captain, linking him with Matt Bell '07 as the only three-year captains in program history.
"I am thankful and grateful God has put me in a place where I can impact guys in a positive way," Cox added. "Since sophomore year I think I've become more of a vocal leader. That year my role as a leader was more on the court, since I was fortunate to play a lot, and from then on I have continued to progress as a leader on and off the court."
Etching his name in the Army record books as a leader, Cox is also making history with his play on the floor.
In Army's Feb. 3 matchup with Lafayette, Cox passed another Hall of Famer Randy Cozzens '85 as Army's all-time assists leader and just reached the 1,000-point mark himself.
"I wouldn't say it is as important as winning," Cox said of his personal accomplishments. "I could go out and not score and if we get a win, I'm happy. I take more pride in serving the guys on the team. I don't know about all of the records, I try not to pay attention to them too much. I am just trying to enjoy this time as much as I can and do whatever I can to help the team win each night, because I know this is close to the end for me and the last stretch playing with these guys."
Cox and his classmates would love to close their careers with a Patriot League title and accompanying NCAA Tournament berth, which has never been done in the program's history.
If Army is cutting down the nets on March 9, Cox will likely follow his teammates and be one of the last to climb that ladder.
The quarterback of the Army West Point men's basketball team could have easily been wearing football cleats throughout his college experience. Instead, the two-sport athlete from Cedar Park, Texas, a state known for its love of the action on the gridiron, chose a pair of black Nike Hyperdunk basketball sneakers and desert tan Army combat boots.
At 6-foot-4 and 191 pounds, Dylan Cox fits the mold of a Division I wide receiver, but also fits perfectly as the point guard for head coach Zach Spiker's up-tempo offensive system on the hardwood. The all-district wideout had opportunities to continue playing football at the next level, but gravitated toward his love of basketball and ultimately chose to spend five years at the greatest leadership development institution in the world, the United States Military Academy at West Point.
"I think it suits our team," Cox said of Army's offensive game plan. "When we push the ball, we are moving so fast and there are a lot of options for me to find guys like Kyle Wilson, Tanner Plomb, Kevin Ferguson and Larry Toomey when they are in positions to score."
The Black Knights are among the nation's leaders in offensive tempo and average possession length, and are second in the Patriot League in points per game.
Wilson is Army's fourth all-time leading scorer, Plomb leads the Patriot League in scoring this season, Ferguson is the Academy's all-time leader in field goal percentage and Toomey is the only member of the class to play in more games than Cox. Cox has missed only two games in his career, despite a laundry list of injuries, many of which are unknown to outside observers of the Army program.
Cox's start to the 2015-16 season was delayed due to a concussion, which forced him to watch Army wins over Ferrum and Binghamton. Cox returned to action against Fairleigh Dickinson and handed out career-best 11 assists in a win over the Knights, before equaling his personal assist mark in Army's next game at George Washington. His return brought a familiarity back to the point guard spot for the Black Knights as they finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record, including a win over MAAC-favorite Monmouth on Dec. 28.
It's no coincidence that the resurgence of Army basketball and Cox's arrival on post go hand-in-hand. Cox and his seven classmates, five of whom attended the United States Military Academy Prep School with him in 2011-12, have achieved success not seen since Army Sports Hall of Famers Kevin Houston '87, Gary Winton '78 and Mike Krzyzewski '69 sported an Army basketball uniform.
Army has won at least 15 games in each of Cox's four seasons, something that hasn't happened since the program's only other four-year run of at least 15 victories from 1920-24. Their 18 wins this year, including a program-record 11 road victories, are the most since 1977-78.
The program achieved its first winning season since 1984-85 during Cox's freshman season. He started every game for that team, which went 16-15 and finished fourth in the Patriot League standings.
As a class, Army has already achieved its most wins over a four-year stretch since 1979, which was Coach Krzyzewski's final winning season as the head coach at West Point.
When asked about what he enjoyed most about his 2016 classmates, Cox immediately pointed to their unselfishness. "When you have a group like this with guys who don't worry about themselves or their numbers, and it is all about winning, that's what makes it really fun. We have guys who are willing to do whatever it takes for the guy next to them in order to get a win."
One of those teammates is senior Billy Morrison, Cox's closest friend on the team described the bond they and their teammates share as 'special,' and spoke highly of his leadership qualities.
"Dylan is the type of leader who earns the trust of others to follow him," Morrison said. "And, he enables them to be better leaders. He's the kind of leader you would take a bullet for because you know he'd take one for you."
Morrison's words are echoed by his teammates' actions, who choose their team captain at the start of each preseason. Cox is now in his third season as a captain, linking him with Matt Bell '07 as the only three-year captains in program history.
"I am thankful and grateful God has put me in a place where I can impact guys in a positive way," Cox added. "Since sophomore year I think I've become more of a vocal leader. That year my role as a leader was more on the court, since I was fortunate to play a lot, and from then on I have continued to progress as a leader on and off the court."
Etching his name in the Army record books as a leader, Cox is also making history with his play on the floor.
In Army's Feb. 3 matchup with Lafayette, Cox passed another Hall of Famer Randy Cozzens '85 as Army's all-time assists leader and just reached the 1,000-point mark himself.
"I wouldn't say it is as important as winning," Cox said of his personal accomplishments. "I could go out and not score and if we get a win, I'm happy. I take more pride in serving the guys on the team. I don't know about all of the records, I try not to pay attention to them too much. I am just trying to enjoy this time as much as I can and do whatever I can to help the team win each night, because I know this is close to the end for me and the last stretch playing with these guys."
Cox and his classmates would love to close their careers with a Patriot League title and accompanying NCAA Tournament berth, which has never been done in the program's history.
If Army is cutting down the nets on March 9, Cox will likely follow his teammates and be one of the last to climb that ladder.
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketballvs. Air Force
Saturday, December 08
vs. UMass Lowell (Audio Only)
Saturday, November 17