Ron Cox excelled in football, baseball, and basketball at Coulee City High School from 1970-1973, but his most memorable achievements came on the basketball court. He led his teams to the State Tournament all four years, finishing second twice and fourth once. During his junior year, Cox set a State B Tournament record with 67 rebounds in four games (16.7 per game). In his senior season, he averaged 25 points and 20 rebounds per game, shooting 65 percent from the field. He also set a tournament record by shooting 73 percent from the field (46-63). By the end of his high school career, Cox had amassed 1,823 points, ranked 33rd all-time in the state, and finished as the all-time State B career rebounding leader with 270 rebounds (18 per game). He earned All-Tournament Team honors three times and ranked among the state’s top scorers and field-goal shooters.

Cox continued his basketball career at Eastern Washington University, where he was the top scorer and rebounder all four years. He set multiple school records, including career scoring, career rebounds, rebounding average, field goals made, and field-goal percentage, finishing with 1,741 points and 1,273 rebounds (12 per game). He made 729 field goals while shooting 62.9 percent and also ranked second in school history for career field goals attempted and free throws made. Cox was twice named an NAIA All-American and was inducted into the Eastern Washington University Hall of Fame in 1998.

In 1977, Cox was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, beginning his professional basketball career. Following his time in the NBA, he became a successful high school basketball coach at Tekoa-Oakesdale and Lakeside High Schools, leading Tekoa-Oakesdale to the State B Championship in 1993.