The UAB football coaching staff is complete once more.

UAB head coach Trent Dilfer has hired C.J. Cox to serve as safeties coach for the Blazers ahead of the 2024 season.

“C.J. Cox is yet another outstanding coach we have been fortunate enough to have join our program,” Dilfer said. “C.J. is an elite teacher of life and football, as well as an accomplished evaluator and recruiter.  The Blazers got better with the addition of C.J. Cox to the coaching staff.”

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Cox arrives on the Southside after spending three seasons at Kent State, where he coached cornerbacks and was the defensive pass-game coordinator. His unit improved from 116th in pass defense in 2022 (265.6 ypg) to 50th (214.5 ypg) last season and was named interim defensive coordinator for the final two games — the MAC championship game and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Before joining the Kent State staff, Cox served as cornerbacks coach for Montana (2018-2020) and Sacramento State (2017). His playing career was cut short due to injury and became a graduate assistant for his alma mater, UNLV, before being promoted to Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting for the 2026 season.

Cox earned both his bachelor’s (Political Science) and master’s degree (Public Administration) at UNLV and was a 2023 member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 under 35 and twice (2022-2023) participated in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“C.J. is an outstanding addition to the UAB family,” Kansas City safeties coach Donald D’Alesio said. “He is a detailed and relentless worker who is committed to getting the most out of his players both on and off the field. The UAB secondary will be fired up to play for C.J. The sky is the limit for him.”