Gene Cross Accepts Position At Notre Dame

Story Links

May 24, 2006

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Gene Cross, a 10-year veteran in the collegiate coaching ranks who spent the last year as an assistant at the University of Virginia, has been named assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Notre Dame it was announced on Wednesday (May 24) by Irish head coach Mike Brey.

Cross joins the staff at Notre Dame after spending the 2005-06 campaign at Virginia where he helped the Cavaliers to a 15-15 record and a tie for seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 7-9 record after being picked in the preseason to finish 12th in the 12-team league. Virginia’s seven wins were three more than the previous season. The Cavaliers advanced to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament after posting a 60-56 first-round victory over Virginia Tech. After falling to 10th-ranked North Carolina, the Cavaliers received a berth in the National Invitation Tournament and were defeated in an opening-round game at Stanford.

Cross joined the Virginia staff after spending three seasons (2002-05) at DePaul with current Cavalier head coach Dave Leitao where he helped lead the Blue Demons to a 58-34 record for a .630 winning percentage and three postseason appearances (one NCAA and two NIT).

Prior to his stint at DePaul, Cross spent six seasons (1996-2002) at the University of Illinois-Chicago where he helped the Flames to two conference championships (1998 and 2002) and two NCAA Tournament berths, the first two in the program’s history.

A native of Chicago, Ill., Cross began his coaching career at Marion-Franklin High School in Columbus, Ohio where he coached the freshman boys’ team and served as assistant varsity boys’ coach during the 1995-96 school year.

Cross played four seasons at the University of Illinois where he lettered twice and helped the Illini to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1993 and 1994.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Illinois in ’94 and received a master’s degree in sport management at Ohio State University in ’96. While at Ohio State, he served as a graduate administrative associate in the Department of Recreational Sports.

Currently, Cross serves as president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Assistant Coaches Board, a position he has held since ’03, and on the NABC Division I Congress. In addition, he also has served as a member of the Special Committee on Recruiting and Access. Cross also is a member of the Black Coaches Association.