The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- coachrc@uab.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Buffalo '95 / Fort Hays State '00
- Experience:
- 6th Season
- Hometown:
- Canton, Ohio
Ryan Cross enters his sixth season at UAB in 2025-26. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2023-24 season after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach.
During Cross’ time in Birmingham, the Blazers have amassed a 125-50 record. UAB has captured a Conference USA Tournament title, and American Conference Tournament title and earned two trips to the NCAA Tournament in four seasons. Last season the Blazers saw another postseason run in the NIT, making it to the quarterfinals before losing to UC Irvine. Cross helped to develop Yaxel Lendeborg who was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year / AAC First Team All-Conference. He has the most double-doubles in UAB and AAC History with 45. Alejandro Vasquez was named to the Second-Team all conference.
In 2022-23, the Blazers set a program record with 29 wins and the program’s first NIT Championship game appearance. During the 2021-22 season Jordan Walker was named Conference USA Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring. Walker followed that up by leading the league in scoring again during the 2022-23 season and being selected first-team All-Conference USA. In 2023-24, Yaxel Lendeborg was named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned first team All-AAC honors. Six other Blazers have also received All-Conference accolades during Cross’ time at UAB.
He came to the Magic City after serving the previous eight seasons at the University of Louisiana Monroe under Keith Richard. He was an assistant for six seasons before being promoted to associate head coach beginning with the 2018-19 season. While at ULM, the Warhawks made four postseason tournaments and posted the third most wins in program history in 2014-15 with 24. During his time in Monroe, Cross was also responsible for recruiting seven All-Sun Belt Conference players, including an SBC Defensive Player of the Year, Justin Roberson and an SBC Freshman of the Year, Michael Ertel. Two other players, Majok Deng and Daishon Smith also led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring during Cross’ time in Monroe.
Cross served on Richard’s staff at Louisiana Tech from 2003-06. During his time in Ruston, the Bulldogs advanced to the 2006 NIT. He also coached four-time NBA All-Star Paul Millsap at Tech, who led the NCAA in rebounding three consecutive seasons. Cross also recruited two other Bulldogs who garnered All Western Athletic Conference honors during his time at Tech.
Coach Cross also had head coaching stints at Chipola Junior College (1999-03) and Barton County Community College (1998-99). In his five seasons as a JUCO head coach, Cross accumulated a 115-45 record and produced many Division I prospects. During his time at Chipola, he also coached Walker Russell Jr. who would later play in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons. In one season as the head coach at Barton County, Cross led the Cougars to a 35-3 record and a trip to the NJCAA national championship game. Cross was named the 1999 NABC National Junior College Coach of the Year and also the 1999 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach of the Year. At Barton County, Cross also coached the 12th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Aleksandar Radojevic (Toronto Raptors). Another one of his players, Lamont Roland, was also named the 1999 NJCAA National Player of the Year.
At the prep level, Cross spent five seasons at Caldwell Parish (LA) High School (2006-11), where he guided the Spartans to a 109-57 overall record and four straight state playoff appearances. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach under current Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes at Barton County (Kan) Community College from 1996-98. He was also a junior college assistant for one season at Bossier Parish (LA) Community College (2011-12). He got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater Buffalo for the 1995-96 season.
He played collegiately at Buffalo (1992-95), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1995. Cross earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Fort Hays State University in 2000.
Cross and his wife Karen have four daughters, Taylor, Kelsy, Amber, and Kendall.
