Troy University has signed Scott Cross, head coach of the men’s basketball team, to a new contract.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the deal will last for four years and includes a “salary increase” for Cross, who has been the Trojans’ men’s basketball head coach since 2019. The contract also gives the program “an assistant coach pool increase and additional budgetary support.”
Sources: Troy has agreed to a new contract with basketball coach Scott Cross, a four-year deal that includes a salary increase for Cross, an assistant coach pool increase and additional budgetary support.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 15, 2024
Cross has led Troy to one of the most successful stretches in their program’s D1 history.
The Trojans have won 20 games for three consecutive years, the first time the team has done so since 1990-1992 when they were a member of Division II. Per Thamel, Troy is the only team in the Sun Belt with 20 wins and double-digit conference wins in each of the last three seasons.
Cross has authored three straight 20-win seasons for the first time in Troy’s DI history. Troy is the only Sun Belt team with 20 wins and double digit conference wins in each of the last three seasons.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 15, 2024
Cross started his head coaching tenure at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he recorded nine winning seasons, three conference championships, and 225 total victories. He spent 12 years at UTA, reaching the postseason in five of those campaigns. Cross still stands as the all-time winningest coach in Mavericks history.
In Cross’s five seasons at Troy, the program has claimed 80 victories, its most in a five-year stretch since 1999-2004. The Trojans have been one of Alabama’s premier mid-major basketball teams since 2021, trailing only UAB and Samford in wins over that time period.
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This season, Cross led Troy to a 20-12 overall record and a 13-5 Sun Belt record despite losing two of the team’s top three scorers from 2022-2023. Troy finished third in the conference and won 15 of their 17 home games.
Three Trojans received postseason all-conference honors. Forward Myles Risgby was named the Sun Belt’s Freshman of the Year, guard Tayton Conerway was named the Sun Belt’s Sixth Man of the Year, and guard Christyon Eugene was named to the conference’s first team.
The only blemish on Cross’s record is a lack of postseason success. In each of the last five years, Troy has bowed out of the Sun Belt Tournament in the semifinals or earlier. The Trojans haven’t made an NCAA Tournament since 2017. Troy’s 2023-2024 season ended on March 9th with a loss to Texas State in the conference quarterfinals.
Troy athletic director Brent Jones reinforced his confidence in the coach shortly before the deal was signed.
While the regular season has come to an end still have a lot to be thankful for
✅ 20 wins
✅ finished 3rd in SBC
✅ 3 straight 20 win seasons- 1st time in D1 history
✅ freshman of the year
✅ 6th man of the year
✅ 1st team SBC selection
✅ 15-2 at home
✅ @CoachScottCross https://t.co/R3htzUuBmi— Brent Jones (@brentjones4) March 10, 2024
Charles Vaughan is a sports analyst and contributing writer for Yellowhammer News.
