How Ryan Cross wants to bring excitement back to ULM men's basketball
Ryan Cross was formally introduced as ULM's new men's basketball coach at a press conference on Thursday, March 26, at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
MONROE — For Ryan Cross , being Louisiana-Monroe 's newest men's basketball coach took 31 years of perseverance. His association with the university started when former coach Mike Vining was recruiting some of his Chipola Junior College players. Cross gained even more respect for the program Vining built following seven Southland Conference tournament titles and seven NCAA Division I tournament appearances.
The 81-year-old Vining retired in 2005 as the conference's all-time winningest coach. After six seasons at Alabama-Birmingham, coaching alongside Keith Richard at ULM and Louisiana Tech and leading Caldwell to four LHSAA playoff appearances, the time was right for Cross to lead his own program again. He was formally introduced as the ninth coach in ULM men's basketball history at a press conference on March 26 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Mentors and fans came out in support, and Cross and Warhawks athletic director SJ Tuohy held up a white jersey at the end of the conference. "I want to get this program back to where we're playing meaningful basketball in March," Cross said. "It's not just the NCAA Tournament.
That means when we're in late February and we're playing (Sun Belt Conference) games, we're still battling for seeding in the conference tournament. That is, in a nutshell, my vision (for this program). " Cross credited Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes as the man who gave him his start in the college ranks.