As the 2026 season continues, Tough Draw Sports athletes continue to separate themselves through the work behind the scenes. Colee Cox has built her foundation that way.
As a breakaway roper on the Tough Draw Sports roster, Colee Cox is in the middle of her senior year of high school, balancing rodeo, golf, and her involvement in 4H. From the practice pen to the golf course to time spent in the barn, her schedule reflects a commitment to showing up across everything she’s taken on.
That kind of lifestyle doesn’t leave much room for shortcuts. It requires consistency, discipline, and the ability to stay committed day after day.
But for Cox, the work started long before high school rodeo.
“I’ve rodeoed since I was probably eight years old,” Cox shared. “I junior high rodeoed my seventh and eighth grade years, and then high school rodeoed all four years. I’ve been very blessed with everything that I’ve done and had lots of big wins.”
One of those moments came early.
“Winning High School Rookie of the Year my freshman year stands out,” Cox recalled. “I had no idea I had won it until I was at the awards banquet. I knew I’d had a pretty good week, but I didn’t know I’d done good enough to win. I was really excited.”
Through the wins—and the inevitable losses—Cox remains focused on doing the work required to achieve her goals. Now, the next step is in place.
Cox has officially committed to Tarleton State University, where she’ll continue her rodeo career in breakaway roping and goat tying at one of the top collegiate rodeo programs in the country.
For a competitor who has put in the work over time, that commitment marks a step forward into a bigger stage and a more competitive level.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Tarleton,” Cox said. “When I went and toured, I got to practice with the team. I immediately knew that’s where I wanted to go.”
Built Through the Process
There’s no single path in Western sports, and Cox’s development reflects that.
Her experience has come through a mix of rodeo, school, golf, and agriculture—all shaping how she approaches competition.
That balance has become one of her strengths, especially in how she manages the day-to-day demands that come with it.
“I don’t know if there is a secret to it,” Cox admitted. “It’s a lot to keep up with. You’re trying to handle rodeo itself, and then everything else that comes with it.”
What’s made that possible is dedication—and the people around her who help keep everything moving.
A Foundation of Relationships
Cox’s path into rodeo didn’t start the way most people expect.
Her dad showed horses, and that’s where she began—competing in Western pleasure and halter before ever stepping into the rodeo arena.
That changed quickly.
“My parents took me to a junior rodeo on my show horse, and I won it,” Cox recalled. “I came out and told my dad, ‘I have a need for speed,’ and I’ve never shown another horse again.”
Since then, her family has played a central role in helping her navigate the sport.
“My parents have done everything in the world for me,” Cox shared. “They’ve learned as much as they could to help me get to where I am today.”
As her rodeo career has developed, her support system has continued to grow.
Through her time with the Cavender’s Youth Rodeo Team, Cox gained early exposure and opportunities that helped shape her as an athlete. After meeting Brad Hughes through Team Cavenders, Cox learned about Tough Draw Sports and began to recognize the value of having guidance in a sport with so many moving parts.
Tough Draw“I didn’t know if I needed it at first,” Cox revealed. “But having someone like Brad to help with things my parents don’t necessarily understand and connect me with the right people has been really important.”
When Cox signed with the agency at just 16 years old, Hughes saw Cox’s drive and encouraged her to lean on Tough Draw Sports as her career took shape.
“Colee is a great example of what it means to build something the right way,” Hughes shared. “She’s put in the work across the board—not just in rodeo, but in everything she’s involved in. That kind of consistency and discipline is what separates athletes as they move to the next level.”
As the demands of the sport continue to grow, having the support of an agent has become even more valuable for rodeo athletes.
“If you’re hauling up and down the road, it’s hard to keep up with everything—what rodeos to enter, where to go, what sponsors need from you,” Cox explained. “It’s a lot to handle while you’re already trying to compete.”
For Cox, the behind-the-scenes team is essential.
“The key is having a great support system,” Cox said. “My dad drives me everywhere and pushes calves, my mom helps get me entered and keeps me on track, and Brad helps with everything on the business side. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
Looking Ahead
As Cox prepares to make the transition to college rodeo, the focus stays the same: build on what’s already in place.
At Tarleton State, she’ll step into a competitive environment that will push her to elevate her performance while continuing to grow as part of a team and earning a degree in agricultural communications.
“That’s where I want to be,” Cox affirmed. “I think the team at Tarleton will push me to the next level, and that’s what I’m excited about.”
Looking further ahead, she already has a clear plan.
Currently competing on her permit, Cox intends to buy her pro card after graduating college.
For Cox, this next chapter isn’t a reset, it’s a continuation.
Everything she’s built so far carries forward into a new level of competition and opportunity.
In that, she represents the kind of athlete the future of this sport is built on.
Tough Draw is a Western storytelling and athlete advocacy platform operating across live events, sports representation, media, and production. Founded in 2014, the brand was built on a commitment to honor Western culture while elevating the athletes who define it. Today, Tough Draw operates through multiple verticals, including Tough Draw Tour, a premium bull riding–only league; Tough Draw Sports, an athlete representation agency; Tough Draw Talks, a Western-focused podcast; and Tough Draw Film, a production company rooted in documentary storytelling. Guided by athlete-first values and long-term relationship building, Tough Draw blends sports professionalism with authentic storytelling to expand opportunity within the Western industry.