Women's Basketball
Cross, Rob
Rob Cross
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- robert.cross@murraystate.edu
- Phone:
- (270) 809-5413
Murray State brought in a familiar face to lead the Murray State women’s basketball team, as director of athletics Allen Ward announced the hiring of longtime assistant coach Rob Cross to take the reins of the Racers as the program’s 12th head coach March 31, 2008.
“I’m excited that Rob has agreed to become our next head coach,” Ward said. “He has definitely earned this opportunity, and I am confident he will build upon the success we have enjoyed the past couple of years.”
Cross takes over as head coach after spending 13 seasons on the bench as an assistant coach at Murray State. He was instrumental in helping three head coaches build the Racer program into the success it has become in the last few seasons.
“Obviously, I’m very excited,” Cross said. “I’m very thankful to (MSU president) Dr. Randy Dunn and Allen Ward for the opportunity ? more than thankful for our student-athletes and the team, the things that they accomplished this year. I’m glad to have the opportunity to continue to work with them.”
As a recruiting coordinator, Cross has been responsible for recruiting and coaching players who have earned 23 All-Ohio Valley Conference awards at Murray State. MSU has produced more all-conference honorees in his tenure than during the entire history of the program prior to his arrival.
Among those players are the Racers’ back-to-back OVC Players of the Year and WBCA/Kodak All-Americans, Joi Scott (2007) and Ashley Hayes (2008), and 2008 All-OVC Tournament Team members Amber Guffey (tournament MVP) and Shaleea Petty, as well as 2002 OVC Freshman of the Year Rebecca Remington, and the only Racer ever drafted by an American professional league, Stacy Holmes.
His recruits dominate the top-10 of every statistical category in the MSU record books. This is one of the reasons that six of the top seven seasons in program history, in terms of OVC wins, have happened during his time on the bench.
Cross takes over a team that set school records last year with 24 wins, 13 home wins and 32 games, and tied the MSU women’s mark of 15 OVC wins. The Racers (24-8) won their first OVC Tournament Championship last season, and took part in their first NCAA Tournament. That team returns nine players to this year’s squad ? including OVC Player of the Year Ashley Hayes and OVC Tournament MVP Amber Guffey.
Cross has also served as the academic coordinator for the team, and much of the Racers’ academic success is to his credit. On his watch, the Racers have won six OVC Medals of Honor, given to the student athlete with the highest grade-point average in the conference, had 50 OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll members, had four USAA Collegiate All-American Scholars and a graduation rate of over 95 percent for student-athletes who finish their careers at MSU. Over 50 percent of all student-athletes under his tutelage have earned Dean’s List recognition at Murray State, and the average team GPA during his tenure is over 3.0.
“This success is indicative not only of the commitment of our student-athletes but also of the support staff here at MSU,” Cross said. “Director of Athletics Allen Ward and associate AD Matt Kelly provide our students with the goal of achieving academic excellence and the means to achieving that goal. We truly do want all of our student-athletes to leave MSU with a degree in one hand and a championship ring in the other.”
Cross received his bachelor’s degree in music from Murray State in 1991. He is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
After a standout career at Henderson County High School, Cross chose to continue his education at Murray State. Immediately prior to returning to his alma mater to help guide the Racers, Cross worked at Union City High School.
Cross is married to the former Summer Roberson of Murray. The couple have one son, Luke, 4.
“I’m excited that Rob has agreed to become our next head coach,” Ward said. “He has definitely earned this opportunity, and I am confident he will build upon the success we have enjoyed the past couple of years.”
Cross takes over as head coach after spending 13 seasons on the bench as an assistant coach at Murray State. He was instrumental in helping three head coaches build the Racer program into the success it has become in the last few seasons.
“Obviously, I’m very excited,” Cross said. “I’m very thankful to (MSU president) Dr. Randy Dunn and Allen Ward for the opportunity ? more than thankful for our student-athletes and the team, the things that they accomplished this year. I’m glad to have the opportunity to continue to work with them.”
As a recruiting coordinator, Cross has been responsible for recruiting and coaching players who have earned 23 All-Ohio Valley Conference awards at Murray State. MSU has produced more all-conference honorees in his tenure than during the entire history of the program prior to his arrival.
Among those players are the Racers’ back-to-back OVC Players of the Year and WBCA/Kodak All-Americans, Joi Scott (2007) and Ashley Hayes (2008), and 2008 All-OVC Tournament Team members Amber Guffey (tournament MVP) and Shaleea Petty, as well as 2002 OVC Freshman of the Year Rebecca Remington, and the only Racer ever drafted by an American professional league, Stacy Holmes.
His recruits dominate the top-10 of every statistical category in the MSU record books. This is one of the reasons that six of the top seven seasons in program history, in terms of OVC wins, have happened during his time on the bench.
Cross takes over a team that set school records last year with 24 wins, 13 home wins and 32 games, and tied the MSU women’s mark of 15 OVC wins. The Racers (24-8) won their first OVC Tournament Championship last season, and took part in their first NCAA Tournament. That team returns nine players to this year’s squad ? including OVC Player of the Year Ashley Hayes and OVC Tournament MVP Amber Guffey.
Cross has also served as the academic coordinator for the team, and much of the Racers’ academic success is to his credit. On his watch, the Racers have won six OVC Medals of Honor, given to the student athlete with the highest grade-point average in the conference, had 50 OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll members, had four USAA Collegiate All-American Scholars and a graduation rate of over 95 percent for student-athletes who finish their careers at MSU. Over 50 percent of all student-athletes under his tutelage have earned Dean’s List recognition at Murray State, and the average team GPA during his tenure is over 3.0.
“This success is indicative not only of the commitment of our student-athletes but also of the support staff here at MSU,” Cross said. “Director of Athletics Allen Ward and associate AD Matt Kelly provide our students with the goal of achieving academic excellence and the means to achieving that goal. We truly do want all of our student-athletes to leave MSU with a degree in one hand and a championship ring in the other.”
Cross received his bachelor’s degree in music from Murray State in 1991. He is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
After a standout career at Henderson County High School, Cross chose to continue his education at Murray State. Immediately prior to returning to his alma mater to help guide the Racers, Cross worked at Union City High School.
Cross is married to the former Summer Roberson of Murray. The couple have one son, Luke, 4.
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