| Gene Cross |
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Gene Cross is in his second year as an assistant coach in the University of Virginia men's basketball program. Cross was an assistant coach on Dave Leitao's staff at DePaul University for three years before coming to Virginia.
DePaul participated in post-season play in each of Cross' three years with the program. The Blue Demons competed in the NCAA Tournament once and the National Invitation Tournament twice.
In 2004-05, Cross helped guide DePaul to an overall record of 20-11, giving the Blue Demons consecutive 20 win seasons for the first time since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
In Cross' second season at DePaul in 2003-04, the team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1989, won a share of the program's first-ever Conference USA regular-season title, was the top seed in the league tournament (advancing to the championship game), and posted 12 conference victories and six league road victories - both school records.
"Gene had an important role in our success at DePaul and will do so at Virginia as well," Leitao said. "He is a tremendous basketball coach whom I trust with all aspects of the program. Most importantly, he embodies the spirit and direction of this University and will serve as a great role model for our student-athletes."
Prior to his three years at DPaul, Cross was an assistant coach for six seasons at the Universiy of Illinois-Chicago. While with the Flames, he helped guide the team to the only two NCAA Tournament appearances in the program's history.
In his final season at UIC, the Flames won 20 games and claimed the inaugural Horizon League Tournament title. With the tournament victory, UIC advanced to the NCAA Tourament where the team lost to eventual Final Four participant Oklahoma in the opening round.
In 1998, UIC tied the school record with 22 wins and captured the Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular-seaon title. The Flames had victories over conference champions Michigan State (Big Ten), Illinois State (Missouri Valley) and Valparaiso (Mid-Continent), helping them earn an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
Cross serves as president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Assistant Coaches Board and he is also a member of the Black Coaches Association.
A native of Chicago, Ill., Cross earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Illinois in 1994. He played four years of basketball for the Fighting Illini, lettering twice. Illinois participated in the NCAA Tournament twice during his playing career.
Cross received a master's degree in sport management at Ohio State University in 1996. While at Ohio State, he served as a graduate administrative associate in the Department of Recreation and Intramural Sports. He also served as an assistant varsity coach and head freshman basketball coach at Marion-Franklin High School in Columbus, Ohio.
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