Dean Cox coached Rising Sun High School's wrestling program for 22 years and led the Tigers to both individual and team success.

Cox guided Rising Sun to a dual meet state championship and a team state title win in 2007, plus 14 region titles. On the individual side, Cox coached 56 wrestlers to the state podium with 12 winning individual state championships.

The Perryville High School alum wrestled under Jon Leitgeb with the Panthers and graduated in 1975. Cox wrestled in college at Salisbury University for Mike McGlinchey, then known as Salisbury State College, and graduated in 1980. Cox’s coaching career began at Salisbury as a graduate assistant under his college coach in the 1980-1981 season. Cox took his first head coaching job at Perryville in 1985 and served as the Panthers’ coach for four seasons.

Perryville’s Ken Mauck became Cox’s first wrestler to win a state championship at 140 pounds in 1989. In his 20 plus years with the Tigers, Cox led a handful of wrestlers to multiple-time state crowns. Jason Townsend was his first with wins at 140 pounds in 1992 and 152 pounds a year later. Matt Jackson was his lone three-time champion with state title wins from 2006 to 2008 at 119, 135 and 145.

Cox retired following the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season. After helping out with Rising Sun’s junior program the previous few seasons, Rising Sun head coach Seth Garvin offered Cox a volunteer coaching position with the Tigers. All four of Rising Sun’s coaches, including Garvin and his brother Luke, Anthony Cimorosi and Lance Eveland wrestled for Cox at Rising Sun.