Remembering Coach Rox

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

Monday was a tragic day for the City of Copperas Cove.
Despite spending a good portion of his life elsewhere, Patrick Rox or “Coach Rox” as he’s affectionately known around the city, spent the last 21 years enriching the lives of those he taught, coached and roamed the halls with at Copperas Cove ISD.
Coach Rox tragically died in a car accident on Monday, but he left behind a lasting legacy for those who had the chance to be impacted by his warm-hearted caring ways.
Coach Rox wasn’t born in Copperas Cove, but it didn’t take him long to get here. After losing his mother in a tragic car accident at age 14, Rox moved to Copperas Cove with family where he played as a tight end for the Bulldogs and met the love of his life, Pam Manning, who he embarked on 29 years of marriage with.
After a lengthy career in real estate, Rox became an educator in Copperas Cove 21 years ago and has been a fixture ever since.
Coach began as a tennis assistant before spending many years as an assistant to head girls’ soccer coach Hagen Streckel before taking over the girls’ head coaching job when Streckel retired after a 30-year career.
“His value to my life has been immeasurable,” said Streckel in an email to the Leader-Press. “I think most who knew him would say the same. His students were very loyal to him, as were his players. This quiet man was such a presence in so many lives, and he will truly be missed.
“We spent time together outside of our job duties and he showed me repeatedly how much he valued his family and how important spending time with them and those he cared about was to him. He was kind and considerate to everyone, always.”
Rox and Streckel were both up for the girls’ head coaching job when coach Jesse Sheon departed the position.
“Though Pat was very disappointed at the time, he set that aside and instead dug into the work of helping me transition from coaching boys to coaching girls, something that is not as intuitive as it sounds,” said Streckel. “He helped me in the background for several months before I got more comfortable with the switch. Always, the girls knew where they stood with Coach Rox, and they soon looked to me for guidance, thanks to his diligence.”
His reach went far beyond the field or court of play.
“He was compassionate, a great listener, and his humor often had a touch of sarcasm if you listened, which the players found so endearing,” said Streckel. “He kept in touch with players after graduation, which is a testament to the relationships he built with them while coaching. His listening ear and supportive demeanor was special.”
Former player Chelsea Letzer returned to Copperas Cove as a coach and spent six years as an assistant to Rox.
“I have the privilege of not only getting to play soccer for him but also coach alongside him for six years,” said Chelsea Letzer. “He was always so kind and compassionate to everyone around him, not to mention the wittiest man I have ever met. He loved his students and players and we all loved him back. He would always go above and beyond for any of us. He was a shoulder to cry on when things were hard and the first person celebrating with me when things were good. 
“To say that I will miss him is the understatement of the year. The world is truly a little darker because he’s no longer here. I am glad to have known him.”
His impact was felt by students, staff and parents alike.
“To know Coach Rox was to love Coach Rox,” said former player Shelbie Letzer Muskiet (2010-2014) in an email to the Leader-Press. “He was such an extraordinary person that showed his love for the Lord in all that he did. As a coach he was kind, hilarious and welcoming to all of his players. His impact on my life has shaped me into the person I am today.  
“I believe I speak for most of his players when I say that he was the best coach I’ve ever had, he was the type of coach you pray your children have the opportunity to be coached by.”
Lee Letzer of Camera Artistry knew him from a professional point of view as the district’s photographer, but also as a friend and parent of two former players.
“Pat was the most gentle soul anyone could meet,” said Lee Letzer. “I have never heard him talk bad about anybody at all. He had such a dry sense of humor that always had me cracking up. He loved his former students, they loved him also. Any time my girls would come to town from school he was the first one that they would always go see. 
“I really think he appreciated the kids more than they did him. Anytime I think of Pat it just gives me good thoughts.”
That impact was evident by the nearly 26,000 people reached as of Monday morning in a Leader-Press Facebook post for his obituary.
Coach Rox was my varsity coach in high school for soccer,” said former player Mariah Ruiz in the Facebook post. “The impact this man left on my life was so legendary… on and off the field. He believed in me and gave me a second chance when no one else did. I have so much love for coach Rox and pray he’s watching over his grand babies and our soccer family.”
“I was very saddened to hear about the loss of such a great individual that helped build a great program at Copperas Cove,” said former Copperas Cove teacher and coach Keith Stifflemire. “The lives that he had a positive impact on in each of his 21 years of service to Copperas Cove ISD cannot be measured but those that knew him will remember how effected their life.”
“I had the pleasure of knowing and working with this very fine man,” said former Copperas Cove athletic director and head football coach Jack Welch. “Honest and a man of integrity. He was a joy to be around and was loved by all.”
“I’ve known Pat and Pam since our days with our kids at Mae Steven’s elementary to city soccer to CCHS soccer… awesome caring gentleman touched the lives of all the children he taught and coached,” said Marsha Lu Mast in a Facebook post. “Ask any girl on his HS soccer team he always had a hair tie in his bag and a shoulder to cry on with boyfriend issues. God bless and give strength to his family and kids whose lives he touched at CCHS.”
“Coach Rox has been an amazing teacher who can never be replaced, and he was so humble and wise when he needed to be,” said Chance McNabb. “I wish I could’ve finished this year with him there but I’m just so thankful to have had him for the past three.”
“Coach Rox definitely had a great sense of humor and the best trait about him is that he was so compassionate,” Skylark Cromwell posted. “I had him my freshman year of high school and I accidentally ended up in his video gaming computer class. Was trying to do computer programming, but I had such a great time in the first week of that class that I never switched out. I wish I were still in Cove to be able to attend your funeral, my heart hurts and my thoughts are with you, Coach.”
Coach Rox was also a devout man of faith. He helped build Eastside Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and taught Sunday School. Rox continued to be involved with the church until his death.
“Pat was a wonderful Bible teacher and openly shared his faith in Jesus Christ,” said Copperas Cove City Council candidate Dianne Campbell on Facebook. “Comfort comes from knowing he is with Jesus.”
Rox will be laid to rest today with services set for 11 a.m. at Eastside Baptist Church with burial following at the Copperas Cove City Cemetery.
“I’m deeply saddened that I am out of state, way too far away to make it back for his funeral service,” said Streckel. “It is difficult to say goodbye up close, let alone a considerable distance. Mary and I send our deepest condolences to his family at this very difficult time.”