Mike Fox

Mike Fox joined the Brockport football coaching staff for the 2016 season as the Defensive Coordinator. Since his arrival on campus the Brockport defense has catapulted into one of the top units in all of Division III football, culminating in a National Defensive Coordinator of the Year honor for Fox following the 2018 season. 

Leading Student-Athletes to Success

Since arriving at Brockport, 14 defensive players have earned all-region recognition, including over half of the defensive starters in 2018. Three of Fox’s defensive players have earned All-American status since his arrival and 29 Brockport defensive players have earned All-Conference recognition in the last four years (2016-2019). Back in 2018, 10 of 11 possible defensive starters earned all-conference status for Fox and the Golden Eagles. He mentored the E8 defensive player of the year in 2018 and the conference’s rookie of the year in both 2018 & 2019.

The Three-Peat

In 2019, Fox and his defense played a major role in helping the coaching staff earn its record third straight Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year honor, while guiding the top defense in the conference. He has now won three straight Empire 8 Championships and made three straight appearances in the NCAA Division III Football Championship. This past season the Golden Eagles rattled off eight straight victories, including rallying from a 23-0 first half deficit to earn a thrilling 32-26 overtime victory over then-ranked No. 18 Cortland, to help seal the program’s third straight E8 title. The league title secured Brockport’s third straight NCAA Championship appearance where the Golden Eagles went on the road to defeat Western New England in first round action before falling in the Sweet 16 at eventual national semifinalist Muhlenberg. The Golden Eagles finished the year with the top rushing offense in the Empire 8 Conference. 

Nationally Recognized Defense

Brockport’s blitz-heavy defensive scheme installed by Fox has led the league in rushing defense for four straight years (2016-2019) and they have also led the conference in scoring defense in each of the last three seasons (2017-2019). 

Under Coach Fox, the Brockport defense has led the nation in several categories, including leading all levels of college football in rushing yards against for two consecutive seasons (2018, 2019). His blitz heavy defensive scheme has helped Brockport to earn national acclaim among collegiate coaches across the country and the Brockport defense has been a major catalyst in the program’s three consecutive Empire 8 Conference championships. The program’s dominant play has led to three straight NCAA Div. III Football Championship Second Round appearances and in 2017 the Golden Eagles advanced as far as the national semifinals. 

National Defensive Coordinator of the Year

The 2018 season will go down as a memorable one for Coach Fox, as the Green and Gold effectively halted their opponents on the ground and through the air. Through 11 of the Golden Eagles' 12 games, Brockport held its entire schedule to negative rushing yards. The staunch defensive effort helped guide Brockport to its second straight Empire 8 Conference title and yet another NCAA Division III Football Championship appearance.

In addition to coaching the Empire 8 and D3football.com East Region Defensive Player of the Year, Austin Dean, Fox also helped land two on the D3football.com All-American list (Dean, Rashad Baker), three to the AP All-American ranks (Dean, Baker, Matt Arita), one to the AFCA All-American list (Dean), and six to the D3football.com All East Region Team (Dean, Baker, Arita, Jake O'Connell, Matt Szymanski, Alex West).

Over the course of the season the Green and Gold led all divisions (FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III) in rushing defense, allowing a mere 6.8-yards per game. During the regular season they held opponents to an astounding negative rushing yards average.

The Golden Eagles also led the nation in defensive third down conversion percentage (0.158) and finished 2018 as the No. 2 overall defense (209.0). Brockport also was top 20 in the nation in red zone defense (2nd, 0.346), fourth down conversion defense (3rd, 0.143), passes intercepted (3rd, 23), team passing efficiency defense (3rd, 86.46), scoring defense (7th, 10.3), team sacks (8th, 3.83), team tackles for loss (6th, 9.6), defensive TDs (15th, 4), and first down defense (18th, 153).

NCAA Final Four in Just His Second Year

Fox's second season with Brockport was an impressive one, as the Brockport defense helped lead them to their best season in program history with an appearance in the 2017 NCAA Final Four. The team made a living of getting after opposing quarterbacks in '17, leading the nation with 63 team sacks, leading the second place teams by more than 20 sacks. They also finished the year ranked third in rushing defense, allowing just 54 yards-per-game on the ground. Eight defensive players were placed on Empire 8 All-Conference teams, including five on the First-Team. Five of those players were also placed on D3Football.com All-East Region teams, while safety Jake O'Connell was named a First-Team All-American.

In his first season donning the Green and Gold, Fox's defense ranked third in the country in defensive touchdowns with six. Four Golden Eagles were named to the All-Conference team, highlighted by Jake O'Connell who ranked sixth in the country in interception return yards with 164. The defense was also active in getting after opposing QB's, averaging over two sacks-per-game (23 total).

Brockport earned its first of what would be three consecutive Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year honors and Head Coach Jason Mangone was named the AFCA National Coach of the Year. 

Success Led Fox to Brockport

Fox joins the Golden Eagles after a 12-year stint at St. John Fisher College, where he served as the Defensive Coordinator for eight seasons. While with the Cardinals, Fox saw six Conference Championships, six Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships, and five NCAA National Playoff appearances including three quarterfinal finishes and a semi-final appearance.

Fox oversaw a defense that crushed over eight school and national records. His unit set the single game record with 11 sacks against Hartwick College in 2013. That same defense also caused a school record 18 forced fumbles and were ranked second in the country in interceptions. 

Over his career, Fox has mentored over 50 All-Conference players, two All-American linebackers, an Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year and a d3football.com All-Decade selection.

An All-American Student-Athlete 

Fox, a 2005 graduate of Fisher, was a four-year starter at Fisher and two-time All-American inside linebacker. He set the Fisher single-season record with 151 tackles as a junior in 2003 and tallied 135 tackles in 2004, while helping guide the Cardinals to their first Empire 8 Conference title and the program’s first trip to the NCAA Division III Championship. 

For his career, Fox, a former All-Greater Rochester selection out of Caledonia-Mumford, ranks not only first at Fisher in career tackles, but his 478 career tackles rank third all-time in NCAA Division III. Fox was also a 2014 inductee in the St. John Fisher College Athletics Hall of Fame.  

After graduating with a degree in Communication/Journalism, Fox began his coaching career in 2005 as a junior varsity assistant. In 2006, he was promoted to varsity inside linebacker coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator, a position he held for two seasons.

Personal

Fox resides in Spencerport, N.Y. with his wife Meghan and their son Connor.