St Kilda has confirmed Jamie Cox will be the club’s new General Manager - Football Performance.
Cox comes to the Saints with an extensive background in elite level sport, both in administrative and playing capacities.
After a long and successful first-class cricket career in Australia and England, during which he became the Sheffield Shield games record holder, Cox worked with the Australian and Tasmanian Institutes of Sport before he was appointed a selector for the Australian cricket team in 2006.
Cox was a national selector for five years, overlapping with his most recent role as South Australian Cricket Association General Manager Cricket/High Performance Manager.
The 45-year-old also has a background in football, having been drafted by Essendon with pick 19 in the 1987 draft after a successful junior career. Cox never played for the Bombers, choosing instead to focus on his cricket career.
St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis said Cox was a great fit for the role of General Manager - Football Performance and that the Club’s selection panel had been highly impressed with his professionalism, philosophies on high performance leadership and compelling professional references.
“After a comprehensive recruitment process, we identified Jamie as the ideal candidate for the role of General Manager - Football Performance,” Finnis said.
“While Jamie’s professional background is predominantly in cricket, his considerable experience as an elite athlete, coach, selector and senior executive gained from a long history across a variety of different sports has him well placed to join our leadership team.
“We are thrilled to welcome a person of Jamie’s experience and character into our organisation to lead our high performance program designed to deliver on-field success for the Saints.”
“Jamie will oversee the performance oriented elements of our football program, working with our senior technical professionals across coaching, development, analysis, conditioning, medical and welfare.”
Under the Club’s new football structure, executive level responsibility for recruitment, list management, contract negotiations, salary cap compliance and integrity resides with Saints’ COO & Legal Counsel, Ameet Bains. Both Cox and Bains are members of the Clubs’ seven person executive team.
Cox arrives at St Kilda at a time of regeneration for the club and is the latest of several key announcements made throughout the pre-season.
His appointment comes after captain Nick Riewoldt’s recent re-signing, club legend Danny Frawley’s return as an assistant coach and the arrival of seven talented young players, including no.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin.
“Our fans are excited by what they have seen taking place at the club and I believe they will welcome today’s news too,” Finnis said.
“The positivity surrounding the Saints has seen us surpass 23,000 members - closing in on our target of having 25,000 members by December 25 for the first time in our history.”
Cox said he was looking forward to joining the Saints and commencing his new role in the New Year.
“It is exciting to have the opportunity to work with an AFL foundation club that is made up of good people with strong values,” Cox said.
“I will bring a depth of experience from working in elite level sport for my entire adult life and have the skills to drive high performance in such a competitive industry.”
In a related development, Saints’ long-term Assistant Coach Danny Sexton has been promoted to the role of Director of Coaching & Strategy following Luke Beveridge’s recent appointment as senior coach of the Western Bulldogs.
Saints’ coach Alan Richardson said that Sexton was widely respected within and outside the Club as a highly talented professional and broadening his influence would provide immediate benefits for the football program.
“Danny has been a quiet achiever in many respects, but you talk to any of the coaches or players he has worked with and all are unanimous in praising his insights, communication and tactical skills. I couldn’t have been more impressed with him since we first came together a little over 12 months ago.”
Jamie Cox at a glance:
- Drafted to Essendon in 1987
- 161 Sheffield Shield matches, an Australian record
- 264 first-class matches across a 19-year career
- First Class batting average of 42.69
- 18,614 First Class runs, second to Darren Lehmann in Australian history
- 51 100s, 81 50s
- Was in the Australian squad on the 1997 and 2001 tours of England
- Shield Player of the Season in 2001
- Captained Somerset for three seasons
- Was appointed as an Australian selector in 2006, replacing Allan Border. Held this position until December 2011
- Was the Group Sport Manager at the Australian Institute of Sport from 2007-2008
- General Manager of Cricket/High Performance Manager at the South Australian Cricket Association from September 2008 – June 2014
