MARSHALL, Texas – In her first year as head coach, East Texas Baptist University women's soccer coach Kristin Cox has been named a United Soccer Coaches "30 Under 30" coach. She is one of only 15 female coaches to receive the award this year in the United States out of over 300 applicants.
The 15 females selected are from NCAA Division I, II, III, NJCAA, club, and NAIA programs. Cox is the only recipient from Texas and one of three NCAA Division III coaches chosen.
"Being selected to be a part of the United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 program is an honor. I am super thankful for this opportunity and cannot wait for the blessings that will come from it as I continue to grow and develop as a soccer coach and in the soccer community," says Cox. "I have already had the privilege of meeting other young and aspiring male and female coaches though my prior USC education courses and cannot wait to meet more and build connections around the country. The amount we can learn and connections we can make from programs such as the 30 under 30 program are irreplaceable. Also being selected as one of almost 300 applicants and the only female from Texas is another honor."
 
The program is designed to give participants exposure to mentorship, and the opportunity to take advantage of educational offerings, such as diplomas, and the United Soccer Coaches Convention. These coaches will be recognized at the 2020 Convention and have exposure on the UnitedSoccerCoaches.org site along with special networking and programming opportunities. They will also be featured in the Soccer Journal and the Give and Go Newsletter.
 
Cox is in her fourth season at ETBU and first as the head coach. She became the assistant coach under Erik Solberg in 2016 before being named the head coach in December 2018. She has helped ETBU to the ASC Tournament and a regional ranking in 2017.
 
She has earned a Master's Degree in Leadership and Bachelor's Degree in accounting and finance from Lubbock Christian University and a second Master's Degree in business administration from ETBU. She was a four-year letterman at LCU, second team all-conference, and voted CoSIDA Academic All-District. Internationally, she has played for Athletes in Action in 2015 and 2016 in Canada and France and served in missions in Costa Rica and Guatemala. She is USSF Certified C License and Goalkeeping License I and II.
 
Cox will network and learn more through USC in the next year through the 30 under 30 program gaining wisdom from some of the top soccer minds in the United States.