Ex-UT coach Cross lands job in Utah

9/22/2010

Former University of Toledo men's basketball coach Gene Cross has accepted an assistant coaching position with the NBA Development League's Utah Flash, the organization announced Wednesday.

The Rockets finished a program-worst 4-28 last season under Cross and were 11-53 in his two seasons before he submitted his resignation last March.

Under the terms of his resignation, Cross was paid his normal biweekly salary of $10,769.23 until Aug. 1.

Cross did not return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday night.

“I am very excited to announce the addition of Gene Cross to the Utah Flash family. He has a very successful track record as an assistant coach and brings valuable head coaching experience to the Flash as well,” said Utah Flash coach Kevin Young, who was hired Sept. 7. “Gene is a very hard worker and he will be great with our players.”

Cross had served as an assistant at Illinois-Chicago, DePaul, Virginia, and Notre Dame before taking his first head coaching job at Toledo in April, 2008.

The Chicago native played in college at Illinois.

“We couldn't be happier to have a guy like Gene Cross on our staff,” Utah Flash president Drew Sellers said. “By all accounts Gene is a team player, and will do whatever it takes to make our organization successful both on and off the court.”

The Flash, which is based in Provo, Utah, and is a minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz, begins its season Nov. 20 on the road against the Reno Bighorns.

— Zach Silka