Where Are They Now: Steph Cox
Defender Steph Cox played for Reign FC from 2013 to 2015. During her career with Seattle, Cox started 48 matches along the backline, and tallied four assists. Cox was named to the NWSL’s Second XI in both 2014 and 2015.
Cox announced her retirement from professional soccer following the 2015 NWSL season. We caught up with the former pro to look back on her time in Seattle and see what she’s up to now.
How would you summarize your time with Reign FC?
“I am proud to have been a part of such a fantastic club. I was able to come in halfway through the first season and it was really exciting to be a part of the growth and excellence demonstrated in seasons two and three. Though the soccer was special, what really set Reign FC apart for me was that it felt like family.”
Was your time with the club anything like you expected heading into it?
“I felt fortunate to be able to live at home and have my family be a part of my time with the club. I had never had that experience before, so it was really special to be able to bring [my daughter] Kaylee along on road trips and to practice. Everyone was great and embraced her company.”
You were with the team for its two most successful seasons in 2014 and 2015, what was it like to achieve that kind of success with the club?
“We were very successful those two years and we had a high standard of play for ourselves. But mostly I just loved the way that we played and enjoyed every minute playing with all of those amazing girls.”
You were honored as a Reign FC Legend during the 2016 NWSL season. What was that experience like?
“It was special to be honored with all of the other influential women in our community. Being one of the older players on the team, and a mom, I wanted to go about my way as a professional player that left an impact on others, especially my teammates.”
Now that you’ve retired, what are you doing currently?
“I am a happy mom of two beautiful girls and a busy high school coach at the moment for Gig Harbor High School.”
What have you had more time to devote to and focus on?
“The transition from playing to coaching has been fun and challenging. I miss the days where I could just show up and play, because there is a lot of behind the scenes details and mental prep that goes in to coaching.”
What are you most looking forward to right now and your goals going forward?
“I am looking forward to developing as a coach and figuring out ways to teach and bring out the best in my players. Mostly I want them to love the game even more because I was their coach!”
Are you still playing soccer when you can? Keeping up with Reign FC?
“I play with my high school team every now and then, and have a lot of fun when I do. I keep up here and there with some of the players, and am trying to get Laura to come down to Gig Harbor for dinner when she is in town!”
Is there anything in particular that you miss about playing professionally?
“As a mom, playing soccer was my ‘me’ time, my free time. It was a pretty special feeling being able to do something that you loved so much and had such a high-level of performance at. It is humbling now to start from the beginning knowing that I have a lot to grow as a coach and as a mom.”
Do you have any advice for players once they decide to hang up the boots?
“I always wondered if I would find something that I was as passionate about as playing soccer. Coaching isn’t the same, but it has its own great rewards knowing that I am impacting the lives of young girls. Nothing will ever be quite the same as running around for 90 minutes at the pro level, but there are other new adventures waiting out there for you!”
