Ryan Cross (basketball)

Ryan Cross
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamLouisiana–Monroe
ConferenceSun Belt
Record0–0 (–)
Playing career
1991–1992Santa Fe CC
1992–1995Buffalo
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1995–1996Buffalo (GA)
1996–1998Barton County CC (assistant)
1998–1999Barton County CC
1999–2003Chipola
2003–2006Louisiana Tech (assistant)
2006–2011Caldwell Parish HS
2011–2012Bossier Parish CC (assistant)
2012–2018Louisiana–Monroe (assistant)
2018–2020Louisiana–Monroe (associate HC)
2020–2023UAB (assistant)
2023–2026UAB (associate HC)
2026–presentLouisiana–Monroe
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1999–2003Chipola
Head coaching record
Overall1–0 (1.000) (NCAA)
115–45 (.719) (JUCO)
109–57 (.657) (high school)

Ryan Cross is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks men's basketball team.

Career

Cross played college basketball at Buffalo from 1992 to 1995. He began his coaching career serving as a graduate assistant for a season at his alma mater, before becoming an assistant at Barton County Community College. Cross took his first head coaching job at Barton County in 1998, leading the team to a 35–3 record in his first and only season. He then became the head coach at Chipola recording an 80–42 record across four seasons, before leaving to take an assistant coaching position at Louisiana Tech.[1]

In May 2006, Cross admitted to being guilty of committing wire fraud while coaching for Barton County.[2] He was sentenced to four months in federal prison followed by three years of probation.[3] From 2006 to 2011, Cross served as the head coach at Caldwell Parish High School, totaling a 109–57 record.[4] He joined Louisiana–Monroe as an assistant coach in 2012. Entering the 2018–19 season, Cross was promoted to associate head coach.[5]

In April 2020, Cross was hired as an assistant at UAB under head coach Andy Kennedy.[6] He was promoted to associate head coach prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.[7] During the 2025–26 season, Cross served as the Blazer's interim head coach for a game while Kennedy was out with an illness.[8]

On March 25, 2026, Cross was named the next head coach at Louisiana–Monroe, replacing Phil Cunningham.[9]

Head coaching record

Record table
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UAB (American Conference) (2025–2026)
2025–26 UAB[a] 1–01–0
UAB: 1–0 (1.000)1–0 (1.000)
Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks (Sun Belt) (2026–present)
2026–27 ULM 0–00–0
ULM: 0–0 (–)0–0 (–)
Total:1–0 (1.000)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Notes

  1. ↑ Served as acting head coach for one game while head coach Andy Kennedy was out with illness

References

  1. ↑ "Bulldogs Add Cross As Assistant Men's Hoops Coach". LA Tech Athletics. June 2, 2003. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Another Ex-Coach at 2-Year College in Kansas Admits Role in Scandal". The Chronicle of Higher Education. May 24, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Barton County coaches sentenced". LJWorld.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  4. ↑ Tsoukalas, Tony (March 24, 2026). "ULM finalizing deal for UAB basketball assistant to become next head coach". al. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ Serives, University News. "ULM men's basketball promotes Ryan Cross, hires 2 assistant coaches". The News-Star. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ Hunsucker, Adam. "ULM loses Cross to UAB, Ertel enters transfer portal". The News-Star. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ Dudley, Evan (June 5, 2023). "UAB's Andy Kennedy promotes Ryan Cross to associate head coach". al. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "UAB's Cross Perfect As 'Substitute Teacher'". The BANNER. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  9. ↑ Washington, Treasure. "ULM men's basketball officially announces Ryan Cross as its next coach". The News-Star. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
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