Mike Box enters his second season on the IUP staff in 2010 as the wide receivers coach.
Box's wide receivers had a highly successful 2019 campaign as they were a huge part of IUP's record-breaking season. The Crimson Hawks set school records for passing yards (3,621), passing yards per game (301.8), and passing touchdowns (41), while their total yards per game (476.7) was the second-highest mark in the program's history.
Box's wide receiver group was led by all-region selection Duane Brown, who was in his first year making the conversion from running back. Brown had 47 receptions and led the team with 937 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. His 19.9 yards per reception was one of the best in Division II. Brown was a two-time PSAC offensive player of the week selection and had four games of two-plus receiving touchdowns.Â
In addition to Brown, Box mentored JoJo Gause and Dom McNeil in their final seasons. Gause was a second team All-PSAC West selection who had a team-high 52 receptions for 838 yards and nine touchdowns while McNeil had 40 grabs for 583 yards and eight scores from the slot.Â
In all, Box helped this trio catch 139 passes for 2,358 yards and 30 touchdowns.Â
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A former quarterback for the Crimson Hawks, Box returned to Indiana after spending the last three seasons at Division III Westminster College as the wide receivers coach. Box helped lead the Titans to three-straight winning seasons and earn an ECAC Bowl Bid in 2018. He saw two of his receivers earn All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honors in Bryson Paulinellie and Connor Cox. The two combined for 99 receptions, 1,399 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018.
Box transferred to IUP in 2011 after playing two years at the University of Connecticut. He threw for 1,747 yards and 13 touchdowns in helping the Crimson Hawks to a PSAC Championship and NCAA playoff run in 2012. In his IUP career he played in 26 games with 21 starts under center, finishing with 4,475 yards and 33 touchdowns on 278-of-498 passing. His 140.06 career passer efficiency was the sixth highest in program history at the time of his graduation.Â
Updated June 25, 2020
