Georgia Tech hires Scott Cross from Troy as new men’s basketball head coach

Following Troy’s exit from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, head coach Scott Cross will take the same position at Georgia Tech. The school announced Cross’ hiring on Friday.

Troy, the No. 13 seed in the South region, lost to No. 4 Nebraska on Thursday, 76-47. For the Cornhuskers, it was their first NCAA men’s tournament win in program history.

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The Trojans finished first in the Sun Belt with a 12-6 record and compiled an overall 22-13 mark. Cross coached seven seasons at Troy, collecting a 125-99 record with two conference regular-season and tournament championships, and two NCAA tournament bids. He is a two-time Sun Belt coach of the year winner.

Prior to his stint at Troy, Cross was the head coach at UT Arlington for 12 seasons. The Mavericks earned two regular-season Sun Belt titles, a conference tournament championship and one NCAA berth as he compiled a 225-161 record.

Cross replaces Damon Stoudamire, who was fired after a last-place finish (2-16) in the ACC this season and 42-55 record over three seasons. He has a previous connection with Georgia Tech associate athletic director Brent Jones, who was the Troy AD when Cross was hired as head coach.

“Coach Cross is a proven winner with 350 career victories and seven conference championships on his resume,” athletic director Ryan Alpert said in the school’s announcement.

“His combination of experience, success and development of student-athletes, both on and off the court, makes him the perfect person to carry on the proud tradition of Georgia Tech men’s basketball,” he added. “He is a great fit for our program, the Institute and the Georgia Tech and Atlanta communities.”

By hiring Cross quickly, Georgia Tech gets ahead start on recruiting the transfer portal. The basketball transfer portal officially opens the day after the NCAA tournament ends. But for teams naming a new coach, the portal opens five days after the hire is officially announced.

Cross’s ability to handle the transfer portal, and the constant player turnover it creates, was one of his most appealing characteristics to Georgia Tech officials, reports The Athletic’s Seth Emerson. Navigating the portal will likely be especially important as the Yellow Jackets attempt to increase their talent level to compete in the ACC.

The coaching change is the first major decision by Alpert, who came from Tennessee to take the position in July.