Ryan Cross enters his sixth season with the UAB men’s basketball program in 2025-26 and his third as Associate Head Coach after earning a promotion prior to the 2023-24 campaign. During his tenure in Birmingham, the Blazers have compiled a 125-50 record, capturing both a Conference USA Tournament title and an American Athletic Conference Tournament championship while earning two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT quarterfinal run. Cross has played a significant role in player development, helping mentor standout performers such as Yaxel Lendeborg, the AAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection, and Jordan Walker, a two-time Conference USA scoring leader and Player of the Year. Six additional Blazers have garnered all-conference honors during his time on staff.
Prior to UAB, Cross spent eight seasons at Louisiana Monroe under Keith Richard, including time as associate head coach. The Warhawks made four postseason appearances and recorded 24 wins in 2014-15, one of the top seasons in program history. Cross also coached at Louisiana Tech, where he worked with future four-time NBA All-Star Paul Millsap, and served as a successful junior college head coach at Chipola and Barton County Community College, compiling a 115-45 record and earning 1999 NABC National Junior College Coach of the Year honors. A former player at Buffalo, Cross earned degrees in sociology and higher education administration. He and his wife, Karen, have four daughters: Taylor, Kelsy, Amber, and Kendall.
