victoriaadvocate
Ex-Refugio HC Cox prepares for year without coaching Published 5:15 am Saturday, July 18, 2026 For the past 42 years, former Refugio Bobcats head football coach Drew Cox has been involved in mentoring and molding young student-athletes.
This year will be different than that established routine as Cox, 65, elected to retire this past May.
Eli Boxell assumes the reins as head coach for the Bobcats heading into the 2026 campaign.
With training camp just a couple weeks away, Cox admits his decision to retire still hasnt fully registered.
The players are doing strength and conditioning work right now, but when the first Monday of August with two-a-days comes around, I think thats when it will really hit me, Cox said.
When it comes to filling his day with other hobbies, Cox said he was once a fan of golfing, but has not picked up a club in a long time.
His primary hobby the past 42 years has been watching football game film.
If youre involved in coaching and youre doing it right, you dont have time for hobbies, Cox laughed.
Its very time consuming.
Rather than picking up a new hobby, Cox said he intends to still follow the Bobcats program as a fan.
He stays in touch with coach Boxell, and offensive line coach Garrett Johnson, both of whom worked on Coxs staff a year ago.
They know how to reach me and I will help the program in any way that I can, Cox said.
Cox also intends to follow the Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial football program this fall.
His only child, Cameron Cox, accepted a new job there as offensive coordinator after serving as the Alice Coyotes offensive coordinator and assistant coach for the past three years.
I will definitely live vicariously through him and the Bobcats program, Cox said.
With his weekends now free, Cox said he will follow the NCAAs Texas Longhorns and the NFLs Houston Texans more closely.
The Baytown native attended several Houston Oilers games in his youth, but finally got to attend his first Texans game in 2025 at the conclusion of the UIL 2A D1 playoffs.
He commented on the high profile quarterbacks Arch Manning and C.J.
Stroud of the Longhorns and Texans respectively.
The expectations they put on Arch last year just werent fair.
They were predicting him to win the Heisman before he even played a full game at that level.
I think hes a good quarterback and hell make a great pro, Cox said.
This will also be a big year for C.J.
Hes got a really good defense and Houston will have a chance to be contenders.
If following various high school, college, and pro football teams is not enough to keep Cox occupied, the former Refugio coach has not ruled out a return to the sidelines at some point in the future.
I am going to miss the grind, but if theres a big hole in my life and I miss it that much, I can come back.
Im 65 not 90, Cox quipped.
Robert Brewer is a sports reporter for the Victoria Advocate.
You can reach him at [email protected].