Ryan Cross, who helped guide UAB to two NCAA Tournament appearances and two conference tournament championships, was named the ninth head coach of ULM men’s basketball on March 25, 2026. Cross makes the return to Monroe, having spent eight seasons with the Warhawks from 2012 to 2020.
Cross comes to ULM after a 20-12 season with the Blazers, UAB competing in the postseason in four of Cross’ six seasons on staff. During his time in Birmingham, the Blazers have amassed a 145-62 record. After claiming the Conference USA tournament championship in 2022, the Blazers turned around to claim the American Athletic Conference tournament title in 2024. While at UAB, Cross recruited and developed seven all-conference players, including Jordan Walker, the 2022 C-USA Player of the Year and Yaxel Lendeborg, 2024 and 2025 AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
He makes a return to Monroe, arriving in Birmingham after eight seasons with the Warhawks from 2012 to 2020. The three winningest seasons since ULM joined the Sun Belt all came while Cross was on staff, the 24 wins in 2014-15 marked as the third-most in program history. ULM made its first Sun Belt Tournament championship game appearance in 2016 and first-ever appearance in the tournament semifinals in 2015.
Seven Warhawks were named all-conference with Cross driving recruitment, including Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Justin Roberson, Freshman of the Year Michael Ertel and Newcomer of the Year Daishon Smith. According to CoachStat.net, Cross was determined as the 13th-best recruiter among mid-major assistant coaches.
Cross served as head coach Keith Richard’s top assistant and lead recruiter for eight seasons, a span highlighted with four postseason tournaments, two second-place finishes in the Sun Belt Conference and a runner-up in the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. ULM finished second to Loyola-Chicago in the 2015 CBI Tournament, an event that saw crowds reaching 4,000 return to Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Prior to his time at ULM, Cross was the head coach at Caldwell Parish High School (2006 to 2011), reaching the state playoffs in four of his five seasons at the helm. In his final season, the team reached the Sweet 16. Cross also served on staff at Louisiana Tech from 2003 to 2006. 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 tenure.
Cross also spent four seasons from 1999 to 2003 as the head coach and athletic director at Chipola College, reaching the NJCAA Region VIII Final Four in 2003. Cross recorded an 80-42 record at the helm, recording a 100% graduation rate among sophomores and recruiting 11 All-Panhandle Conference players and two All-NJCAA Region VIII players. 22 student-athletes signed NCAA Division I scholarships while Cross was head coach.
In 1996, he began his coaching career at Barton County Community College, spending two seasons as the assistant coach before taking the reigns as head coach in 1998. Barton County recorded a 35-3 record with Cross leading the team, claiming the 1999 Jayhawk Conference title and NJCAA Region VI championship. Cross was recognized as the NABC National Junior College Coach of the Year and Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach of the Year. He recruited Aleksander Radojevic, who was selected 12th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft for the Toronto Raptors and Lamont Roland, the 1999 NJCAA National Player of the Year.
Cross holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Buffalo, graduating in 1995. He then went on to complete a master’s degree in high education administration at Fort Hays State University in 2000.
THE CROSS FILE
PERSONAL
- College: Buffalo (1995)
- Wife: Karen
- Daughters: Taylor, Kelsy, Amber and Kendall
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- 1991-92: Santa Fe CC
- 1992-95: Buffalo
COACHING CAREER
- 1996-98: Barton County CC (Assistant Coach)
- 1998-99: Barton County CC (Head Coach)
- 1999-2003: Chipola College (Head Coach, Athletic Director)
- 2003-06: Louisiana Tech (Assistant Coach)
- 2006-11: Caldwell Parish HS (Head Coach)
- 2011-12: Bossier Parish CC (Assistant Coach)
- 2012-18: ULM (Assistant Coach)
- 2018-20: ULM (Associate Head Coach)
- 2020-23: UAB (Assistant Coach)
- 2023-26: UAB (Associate Head Coach)
- 2026-present: ULM (Head Coach)
