Davidson's Fox In Contract Talks with ASU

Davidson associate head coach Jim Fox is in negotiations to become the next head basketball coach at Appalachian State, sources told the Citizen Friday evening.


Fox has been an assistant on coach Bob McKillop’s staff the past 13 years, including the last three as associate head coach.

The head coaching job would be the first at the college level for Fox, a Levittown, N.Y. native and graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo College. Following a 9-21 campaign this season, Appalachian did not renew the contract of coach Jason Capel, whose teams were 53-70 in four seasons.

During Fox’s Davidson tenure, the Wildcats have compiled a 288-130 record and made six NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2008 run to the Elite Eight.

“It’s no coincidence that our program has enjoyed consistent success since Jim Fox joined our staff in August 2001,” McKillop said in the Davidson media guide. “We’ve asked him to wear more hats and take on additional coaching responsibilities, and he hasn’t missed a beat. This versatility has prepared him well to be a head coach, and he’s certainly ready for that challenge.”

Davidson and Appalachian have been longtime Southern Conference rivals, but both will play in new conferences next season, Davidson in the Atlantic 10 and Appalachian in the Sun Belt.

asu66 wrote:

Davidson's Fox In Contract Talks with ASU

Davidson associate head coach Jim Fox is in negotiations to become the next head basketball coach at Appalachian State, sources told the Citizen Friday evening.


Fox has been an assistant on coach Bob McKillop’s staff the past 13 years, including the last three as associate head coach.

The head coaching job would be the first at the college level for Fox, a Levittown, N.Y. native and graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo College. Following a 9-21 campaign this season, Appalachian did not renew the contract of coach Jason Capel, whose teams were 53-70 in four seasons.

During Fox’s Davidson tenure, the Wildcats have compiled a 288-130 record and made six NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2008 run to the Elite Eight.

“It’s no coincidence that our program has enjoyed consistent success since Jim Fox joined our staff in August 2001,” McKillop said in the Davidson media guide. “We’ve asked him to wear more hats and take on additional coaching responsibilities, and he hasn’t missed a beat. This versatility has prepared him well to be a head coach, and he’s certainly ready for that challenge.”

Davidson and Appalachian have been longtime Southern Conference rivals, but both will play in new conferences next season, Davidson in the Atlantic 10 and Appalachian in the Sun Belt.

With the praise McKillop gave Fox, I don't see why they don't give incentives that would keep Fox on a bit longer.

FWIW, I admire Davidson for being able to keep its high academic standards and still keep the program competitive.A former student of mine who went on to be an announcer for the Davidson basketball network who had a 1200 plus SAT and played good competitive college basketball elsewhere was once asked on the radio why he didn't choose Davidson as his choice as a player, looked at the Davidson starting five who just happened to have two players with perfect 1600 SAT's and said he would be the dumbest one out there.

JCline0429 wrote:

With the praise McKillop gave Fox, I don't see why they don't give incentives that would keep Fox on a bit longer.

Mckillop wants to give the job to his son.

Maddog1956 wrote:

JCline0429 wrote:

With the praise McKillop gave Fox, I don't see why they don't give incentives that would keep Fox on a bit longer.

Mckillop wants to give the job to his son.

What direct information gives you that idea? Not doubting your opinion...just wondering.

If he's our man it will be interesting to see how he responds to leading a team that plays second fiddle on campus (to football). Davidson has a basketball team disguised as an athletic department.

Gonzo wrote:If he's our man it will be interesting to see how he responds to leading a team that plays second fiddle on campus (to football). Davidson has a basketball team disguised as an athletic department.

Don't look now but their baseball team is atop the SoCon standings.

From what I heard Fox was made the associate head coach two years ago because he was the crown prince.

If Fox builds up our program and then goes to Davidson when McKillop retires in a few years, I'm okay with that.

T-Dog wrote:From what I heard Fox was made the associate head coach two years ago because he was the crown prince.

If Fox builds up our program and then goes to Davidson when McKillop retires in a few years, I'm okay with that.

Perhaps by that time, he will have prepared someone to follow in his footsteps at App.

JCline0429 wrote:

Maddog1956 wrote:

JCline0429 wrote:

With the praise McKillop gave Fox, I don't see why they don't give incentives that would keep Fox on a bit longer.

Mckillop wants to give the job to his son.

What direct information gives you that idea? Not doubting your opinion...just wondering.

His son is his assistance behind Fox. It would be nice to give your son a HC job if you thought he deserved it.

dang! I had just gotten used to the words "Coach Fox" not upsetting me. Hope he is not kin to that sly fox.

hapapp wrote:

Gonzo wrote:If he's our man it will be interesting to see how he responds to leading a team that plays second fiddle on campus (to football). Davidson has a basketball team disguised as an athletic department.

Don't look now but their baseball team is atop the SoCon standings.

blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. i don't see their baseball team having sustained success. i was told they only get 2 athletic scholarships.

so, Basketball team disguised as an athletic department is an accurate statement

Not sure Fox is exactly a sure thing to be "next in line." I always through Matheny, who is at Elon, would have a big say in the conversation. Matheny, who was the QB and PG at Davidson during his playing days, was the Associate Head Coach for 6 or 7 seasons before taking his own job. Davidson went 3 seasons without an Associate HC before Fox was promoted before the 2012-2013 season.

Fox would put in an actual system on offense to let his players succeed instead of just letting them run around, and I'm sure he could clean up the off the court issues quick. No matter who comes here was going to have a really tough time for at least a year, probably more. I understand he has no head coaching experience, but everyone has to start somewhere. He's had 12 years right beside the best coach (IMO) at the level we play on.

I think most head coaches want to do right by their assistants. Obviously Fox wants to be a HC, and McKillop thinks he's ready (even quoted saying as much on Fox's official bio). Wouldn't really be in Fox's best long-term career interests to try and keep him as an assistant when he has the opportunity to run his own program elsewhere.

Contract has been hammered out. BOT will meet, likely on Monday, to approve the hiring.

T-Dog wrote:Contract has been hammered out. BOT will meet, likely on Monday, to approve the hiring.

From the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

Source: Fox in line to take over at ASU

Posted: Sunday, April 6, 2014 4:27 pm
By Tommy Bowman

Jim Fox, the associate head coach at Davidson, is close to becoming Appalachian State’s new men’s basketball coach.

A person with knowledge of the hiring process said Sunday afternoon that a contract is in place and that the remaining steps needed are signatures and approval by Appalachian State’s board of trustees, which could come Monday. The person is not authorized to discuss the search publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Appalachian State has been seeking a replacement for Jason Capel, whose contract was not extended after four seasons. Capel had a 53-70 record as the head coach, and the Mountaineers were 9-21 this past season.

Fox has spent the past 13 seasons at Davidson as an assistant to Bob McKillop, including the last two seasons as associate head coach.

The Wildcats have a combined record of 288-130 and have won six Southern Conference titles during Fox’s time on staff.

Before joining Davidson in 2001, Fox, a native of Levittown, N.Y., and graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo, was the associate head coach at St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, N.Y., for five seasons.

huskie3 wrote:dang! I had just gotten used to the words "Coach Fox" not upsetting me. Hope he is not kin to that sly fox.

Maybe he's kin to this Coach Fox?

Better than him being kin to the other Coach Fox, Denver Broncos and formerly Carolina Panthers.

GoApps70 wrote:Better than him being kin to the other Coach Fox, Denver Broncos and formerly Carolina Panthers.

Didn't the other Fox make it to the Super Bowl this year?

JCline0429 wrote:

GoApps70 wrote:Better than him being kin to the other Coach Fox, Denver Broncos and formerly Carolina Panthers.

Didn't the other Fox make it to the Super Bowl this year?

Yes.....he was a special guest of player/coach Peyton Manning.