Columbus North assistant volleyball coach Kathy Cox shares a smile during a surprise retirement ceremony before a match against Columbus East in Memorial Gym at Columbus North High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Columbus North assistant volleyball coach Kathy Cox has decided to call it a career.
Cox will be retiring following the Bull Dogs’ season after 15 years with the program.
Cox, who has coached the North C-Team the past two years, had previously thought about retiring last season, but had a change of heart. She wanted to finish out with the current senior class that she’s known since they played on her club volleyball team.
Cox also added that she also wanted to spend time her family and watch her grandchildren play volleyball.
Of course, Cox will miss everyone that has been a part of her life coaching volleyball.
“(The seniors) all played for me, so I was like, ‘I’ll stay until their senior year,” Cox said. “I have grandkids who play ball, and I miss all that.”
Prior to joining the North staff, Cox was the coach at Northside Middle School for eight years. One of the girls that she coached at Northside was current North varsity coach Jenna Ortega. Ortega played for Cox in the eighth grade and mentioned Cox as one of her biggest inspirations that made her love volleyball.
Ortega has been involved in the HAVOC (Hope Area Volleyball Club) program the past 14 years. She has been co-director of HAVOC the past six years.
“I’ve always looked up to her as a coach. She was one coach that made the game fun and enjoyable,” Ortega said. “Her giving me the opportunity in eighth grade, I didn’t see a whole lot of playing time, but just to have a coach believe in me and make the game fun inspired me to do the same.”
When Ortega arrived as the new coach at North last year, Cox was one of the first people to show her around.
“She is one of the main coaches, her and (Hauser coach) Jeff Case on why I followed in the footsteps that I have in having that leadership at a young age,” Ortega said. “Being able to have her coach under me is weird, but she also has been teaching me as I go. Having her here with me at North, a bigger school that’s she been around for so long, she’s been my mentor, my guide that I needed. She’s been my right hand man, and honestly, I couldn’t get through some of the things without her. She’s been a huge impact on my life.”
Back on Sept. 29, the North volleyball team honored Cox during the annual crosstown rivalry game against Columbus East. There also was a table for Cox, along with the rest of the seniors with pictures and a memory book. There also is a Facebook group for anyone that was coached by Cox or who’s life was impacted by Cox.
“That night was to honor her and make her known of how loved and appreciated she is and she continues to be,” Ortega said. “In general, everyone once to feel appreciated. We all want that. It was really an eye-opener of all the lives she has touched over the years.”
The Bull Dogs (11-15) drew a bye in the East Sectional and will take on the winner between Franklin and East Central in the semifinals at 11 a.m. Saturday. The sectional final is at 6 p.m. Saturday.
“There’s been so many kids that come through. They teach me as much as I teach them,” Cox said. “It’s always been fun. I love athletics.”
