LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The 2025-26 season marks the 75th season for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The PSAC is commemorating the occasion by honoring 300 of its most prominent contributors throughout the month of September.
The first two groups of 75 honorees were recently announced. The process began with the "Made in the PSAC", a group that recognized former student-athletes that have gone on to influential careers after graduation (which could be in the sports industry, but not necessarily as a professional athlete.) Last week the PSAC's 75 Greatest Female Athletes were introduced.
Today PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray announced the third grouping -- the PSAC's 75 Greatest Male Athletes. The group recognizes former male student-athletes that had exceptional athletic careers during or after their participation in the PSAC.
Included in the PSAC's 75 Greatest Male Athletes is Gannon's Aaron Cox, one of the greatest baseball players to take to the diamond for the Golden Knights.
"The legacy of the PSAC has been built on the backs of remarkable student-athletes whose impact transcends box scores and record books," said Steve Murray, PSAC Commissioner. "Honoring the 75 greatest male athletes in our history is more than a celebration of talent. It's a tribute to the character, discipline, and competitive spirit that define our conference. These men didn't just compete in the PSAC—they helped shape its identity."
Cox played for the Golden Knights from 2013-15 before being selected in the Major League Draft. During his three seasons he rewrote the record books. He was inducted into the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander set Gannon career records with 251 strikeouts, 10.72 strikeouts per nine innings, 21 complete games, and 5 shutouts. He held opposing hitters to a .233 batting average in his career, which is also a program record. (His strikeout and shutout records have since been broken.)
When he left Gannon in 2015, he had the three highest single-season strikeout totals (89 in 2014; 81 in 2013 and 2015). Those seasons now rank second through fourth. He also set the GU single-season record with 10 complete games in 2014.
Cox also ranks second in Gannon history with a 3.29 ERA and 18 career victories. He threw a no-hitter in 2015 against Limestone (S.C.).
However, Cox wasn't only a star on the mound for the Golden Knights; he was a power-hitting standout at the plate. His 15 career homers tie him for seventh on Gannon's career list. He hit .284 with 115 hits, 24 doubles, 5 triples, and 72 RBIs in three seasons.
He was the PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2013 when he earned second team All-PSAC West honors. He was a first team All-PSAC West selection as a sophomore in 2014 and a second team All-PSAC West pick as a junior. He earned second team Daktronics All-Region accolades in 2014.
In 2015, Cox became the fourth Gannon player to be selected in the Major League Draft when the Los Angeles Angels drafted him in the 19th round. The Vineland, N.J., native was majoring in criminal justice before he signed a pro contract in 2015.
He pitched three seasons in the minor leagues, compiling a 7-3 record with a 3.64 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 101 innings.
He passed away on Aug. 15, 2018, at the age of 24.
The 75th anniversary honors will conclude with the release of the PSAC's "Distinguished Keystones" on September 24.
All 300 honorees were selected through a process that included nominations from institutions and selections by committee. The committee was comprised of institutional and PSAC staff.
ABOUT THE PSAC: The PSAC was founded on March 11, 1951, and comprised 14 institutions as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC). Since then, it has grown into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions.
