(Screengrab via YouTube)
The champion basketball coach of an exclusive Indiana high school has been arrested on federal child porn charges after an investigation into his relationship with a female student. Authorities announced that Kyle Cox, 31, former coach at Park Tudor, was taken into custody on February 4. He resigned from his job at the school in December in a decision that was described as “abrupt” by the Indianapolis Star.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Allegedly Exchanged Sexually Explicit Messages With a 15-Year-Old Girl & Tried to Meet Her for Sex — Until Her Dad Found Out
The Indianapolis Star reports that Cox had already been linked to a criminal investigation involving a teenage victim. On January 7, cops searched Cox’s home in Fishers, Indiana, as well as Park Tudor, where Cox formerly coached. WTHR reports that the investigation was headed up by the state Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Fmr @parktudor basketball coach Kyle Cox, 31, being taken to jail after arrest on child porn/solicitation charges.
According to a federal criminal complaint dated February 4 and written by FBI Detective Darin Odier, which you can read in full below, Cox sent sexually explicit pictures to a 15-year-old girl, induced her to send him sexually explicit photos and videos of herself, masturbated to those videos and told her about it, and attempted to arrange a meeting to have sex with her and take explicit photos of them together.
The complaint alleges that during the first semester of the 2015-2016 school year, when Cox was still a teacher and coach at Park Tudor, he “established an improper relationship” with the girl and “attempted to coerce and entice the child to engage in illegal sexual activity with him and to meet him for this purpose.”
Detective Odier writes that Cox “devised a plan to take the student to his home, while his wife and children were out of town, so that he could engage in sexually explicit conduct with her and produce visual depictions. … Cox also tried to convince her to meet him for sexual activity at school. Cox’s final plan to take the girl to his home was only disrupted when the girl’s father discovered the related electronic communications and determined that they involved a teacher.”
According to the complaint, the father provided copies of certain explicit messages to investigators, and they “included a sexually explicit image of a minor.” Much of the alleged communication between Cox and the victim took place on the app Snapchat, where Cox went by the handle “bigsilkysmooth.”
The complaint alleges that one day after his resignation, Cox texted a male student in an alleged reference to the victim and wrote, “I would turn my head if you messed her up.”
Cox made his first appearance in federal court on February 4, hours after he was arrested without incident. Cox is charged with solicitation and production of child pornography, coercion, and enticement; he could face 10 years in prison. He did not enter a plea.
2. After Cox’s Resignation, the School’s Principal, Who Used to Teach Peyton Manning, Committed Suicide
In the wake of Cox’s resignation, Park Tudor principal Dr. Matthew Miller was found dead at his home. His death was ruled a suicide, reports WTHR. Prior to working at Park Tudor, Miller worked at the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans while Peyton Manning was a student there. Miller was a graduate of the prestigious Oxford University.
In a statement after his suicide, the Park Tudor Board of Directors said, “The entire Park Tudor community is deeply saddened by this sudden loss. We ask that you keep Dr. Miller’s family, our students and our community in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
3. The Indianapolis Colts Owner’s Daughter Is on the School’s Board
Park Tudor is an exclusive private school that counts IndyCar star Ed Carpenter and Indiana University basketball player Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell among its alumni. Meanwhile, Colts owner Jim Irsay‘s daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is an alumna and sits on the school’s board. The school is located on Indianapolis’ north side. There are nearly 1,000 students enrolled at Park Tudor.
4. Cox’s Record at Park Tudor Was 55-6 — Success Attributed to Using ‘Moneyball’ Tactics
Cox was first hired by Park Tudor in 2009 as an assistant coach. In addition to being the head coach, Cox was also the school’s assistant athletic director, reports USA Today. During his tenure, Cox coached Park Tudor to a 55-6 record and two Class 2A state championships. Prior to his mid-season resignation, the team was 5-0. A Forbes feature on Cox and his success says that he replaced former NBA coach Ed Schilling as head coach. The Indianapolis Star reported in January 2015 that Cox was one of the coaches in the state utilizing Moneyball-style tactics. The school recruited a New York-based company, Krossover, which breaks down stats and game videos on teams.
5. Cox Is a Graduate of Ball State, Where His Dad Was an Athletic Director
Cox was a scholarship basketball star at Ball State, where he also played golf, according to his profile at the school’s website. He attended Blue River High School. His father, Tony, was an athletic director at Ball State and worked in the school’s basketball program. Kyle Cox was a pre-med and chemistry major in college. He’s a native of Muncie, Indiana. USA Today reported in 2014 that Cox’s wife, Emily, was a familiar face at the team’s games, often baking cookies for the players. The couple have one child together.
