Vincenzo Cox

Vincenzo Cox is a former track and field athlete (The University of Houston) and soccer player from Miami, Florida. Vincenzo was born September 22, 1972 in Augusta, Georgia and lived some of his early years in Spangdahlem, Germany. He attended Miami Killian Senior High School (but graduated from Miami Northwestern High School). He is the current head soccer coach at Alief Elsik High School. He is also a track and field assistant coach.
While at Miami Killian, Vincenzo got involved in track and field.
After graduating high school, Cox received few offers and signed a track and field scholarship to Arizona State University. At ASU he was expected to be a 200m/400m sprinter. However he did not qualify academically and had to forfeit his freshman year. As a freshman, Cox competed in the 400m Hurdles and ran 51.74 which was the top 5 in the nation for 19 year olds and under. At this time he had numerous offers to LSU, Florida State, University of Miami, Texas Southern University, and University of Tennessee. He chose the University of Houston to train under Tom Tellez (arguably the greatest sprint and field events coach of all-time) and the world-class athletes Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell, Mike Marsh, Floyd Heard, Joe DeLoach, LaMont Smith and Sheddric Fields. Tellez had a tremendous influence on Cox as a sprinter and as a person.
While at Houston, Cox became on the best hurdlers in the nation, competing in the NCAA Track and Field Championships each year (1994-1996). He also ran sprints indoors and outdoors ran and on 3 nationally recognized Cougar relays: 4X100m, 4X200m, and 4X400m (anchoring the latter two). Cox gained confidence as a sprinter training with then 100m World Record Holder, Leroy Burrell (the world's fastest human). Burrell even told Cox that he had the ability to be a sprinter. As a hurdler with sprinters speed Cox was able to gain national honors winning Texas Relays and Mt. Sac relays as a hurdler. As a senior, Cox was co-team captain along with Fields and picked to be one of the favorites to win the NCAA Division I Championships in the 400m Hurdles. However, injury struck Cox at the final (of the 400mH) SWC championships as he lead the field by 5-7 meters and tripped over the 8th hurdle falling to the ground breaking a bone in his wrist (scaphiod bone).
A week and a half later at the 1996 NCAA championships, Cox ran on the 4X100m relay and in the 400m hurdles with a cast on his arm.
At the 1996 Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Cox finished 4th in his qualifying section to Bryan Bronson (Olympic Trials winner), Torrance Zellner (#4 in the world 1996) and Derrick Adkins, the eventual 1996 Olympic Champion. His fastest time that year was 49.59 ran at a Rice track meet.
In 1995 and 1997 Cox competed at the USA Track & Field World Championship Trials running for Santa Monica Track Club.
For the overall athletic ability Cox possessed (speed and endurance), he never fulfilled his potential as a track and field athlete.
Shortly after the trials in 1997, Cox decided to take his chances with his athletic ability and become a professional soccer player.
Cox met briefly met United States Men's National Soccer Team Coach Steve Sampson at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in San Diego, CA in 1996 and became inspired to play while watching the United States men's national soccer team prepare for a World Cup qualifying match.
1997 Cox moved to Orlando, Florida.
In Orlando, Cox was spotted by former Leeds United player, Terry Connor and offered a chance to try out in England. While in England, Cox tried out for several teams, most notably -Aldershot F.C. and Gosport Borough F.C.. With no work permit to remain in England, he returned to the U.S. to several trials with MLS teams, Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards. Having a "decent" trial with the Crew, he was released early on due to lack of experience. Former United States Men's National Soccer Team Captain, Thomas Dooley asked (then coach) Tom Fitzgerald to hang on to Cox. But there was no room in the team for Cox. Columbus already had a host of established players like: Brian McBride, Stern John, Brian Maisonneuve, Robert Warzycha, Mike Lapper, Jeff Cunningham, and Juergen Sommer. He also had brief stints with Raleigh Express, Houston Hurricanes, Cocoa Expos, and Houston Leones.

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