Bring On Coach Scott Cross At Georgia Tech Basketball

( photo- Georgia Tech Athletics)

On Monday March 23 , Georgia Tech President Dr. Angel Cabrera introduced his Director of Athletics Ryan Alpert, who in turn introduced Scott Cross as the new head coach of men's basketball l at the Institute. Cross joins Tech from Troy University in Alabama, where he had been head coach for the preceding seven years, producing five consecutive 20 -win seasons and two NCAA tournament appearances.

Monday's presser was, of course, a largely scripted event. But even so, all three men came across as genuinely enthusiastic about the hire. And why not?

Cabrera has said repeatedly over his tenure that he wants Georgia Tech to achieve in athletic endeavors at the same high level as in academics. That's a lofty goal, and it has proven elusive in recent years, especially in the "money " sports of football and men's basketball. Those two sports have long dominated the headlines and the financial well- being of university athletic departments across the land. And recent developments in the NIL era have only amplified that dominance.

Thus you can have intermittent success in lesser known sports --such as volleyball, swimming, golf, and even baseball– and still not benefit from the curious but undeniable tailwind that the big money sports provide to the bottom line--as well as to the overall reputation of the entire school.

And so it is that Georgia Tech had, and has, a lot riding on this hire. And at first review, it would seem that they chose extremely well. Cross came across as earnest, confident and eager. Not to mention sincere. All good.

He arrives with the only history that can provide genuine confidence, and that is a track record of prior success. Bill Parcells famously said " you are what your record says you are". It was a different sport, yes, but the lesson holds. By that measure, Cross has been a winner.

Georgia Tech basketball has been below mediocre for a long time. Yes, they captured an ACC title in " the Covid year" of 2021, thus gaining a berth in the big dance, losing in their first round game. That was under Josh Pastner, who was affable , hard- working and realistic, but deemed to have reached his ceiling. A couple years later, they ditched him in favor of Damon Stoudamire. Stoudamire brought a sterling NBA resume from his playing days, adding some allure to incoming talent that reak development was likely to come from a man who had personally been to the mountain top. What Stoudamire did not have was a strong record of prior coaching success. He had won at Pacific prior to his assistant role in Boston with the Celtics. For whatever reason, that work history did not translate into success at Georgia Tech.

Stoudamire's third year at Tech produced a bad finish to a poor year , making a change almost mandatory--especially since he had been hired by then- AD J Batt, who left Georgia Tech a year ago, paving the way for Alpert's arrival.

At Monday's event, Tech's AD laid out the criteria he employed for his search, a process he compared to speed- dating. Alpert said the job called for a coach with prior coaching success, plus a proper appreciation of Georgia Tech itself. He also wanted a coach who would establish a culture of accountability, one who had a history of successful development of young men.

Check, check, check and check, with the hiring of Scott Cross. Cross pledged allegiance to hard work, hustle, player development everyday, and a willingness to live with the results generated by the relentless application of those principles. He plans a vigorous man- to-man defense, and an offense that seeks to find good shots to take, be they quick or deliberate.

Cross also did an artful job of recalling some Tech names from the glory days, including Bobby Cremins, Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott, and Brian Oliver. Plus Matt Harpring. Stalwarts all, certainly.

Too, Cross paid homage to this obvious fact– there is abundant young talent in and around Atlanta, and he plans to take proper advantage of that fact. But tellingly, he added that roster- building is as much about getting the right guys - OKG's, he called them– as in , " our kind of guys", as it is about getting the biggest stars.

He also noted that the NIL world that has enveloped college sports provides opportunities just as it produces challenges.

With all of those answers, Cross won the room on Day One. He gave props to his wife Jen, whom he described as the CEO of the Cross family. And he proudly introduced his three sons to the gathering.

In hitting all the right notes, Cross also incidentally reminded us of the fact that these Day One introductions don't mean much in the long haul. Only three years ago, it was a tearful Stoudamire at the microphone next to President Cabrera ​. He was overcome with gratitude as he began his tenure at Tech. On that day, Tech world could have easily believed that the Institute had found their man.

But just a few years later, Stoudamire seemed almost befuddled by his lack of success​, and not just by the recent months-long losing streak , but by his seeming inability to grasp anything resembling an antidote.

So cautious optimism is appropriate here in March of 2026, bolsterd by the assertions of both Cabrera and Alpert that they will provide Cross with substantial support ( also known as money), though Alpert smoothly demurred when pressed by AJC writer Ken Suguira for any actual numbers.

Cross invoked the halcyon days of Cremins and crew, a time long ago when the Thrillerdome was a tough place for visitors, and the whole city of Atlanta was emotionally involved with Tech basketball. He gave less space to the accomplishments of Paul Hewitt who took Tech to a Final Four in 2004 before drifting down to a rough finish with declining records and recruiting mischief that led to significant NCAA sanctions as he was turned out after the 2011 season ( back when the NCAA had authority, and wielded it).

That history aside, Scott Cross inadvertently reminded all Tech fans that new and shiny doesn't always portend success. Not long ago, Tech football brought in a new man who extolled the virtues of Waffle House, just as Cross did Monday. The football Waffle House guy did not achieve success in any fashion that Bill Parcells would recognize, though he insisted --even as he was leaving– that progress was being made.

That said, it seems that the pieces are in place for Tech roundball to, well, rebound. Certainly Stoudamire's 2-16 ACC mark in his final season should be easy to surpass.

Last September, when Stoudamire asserted that his 2025-6 should be able to "make the tournament ", Tech fans were thinking NCAA tournament. Instead the Yellow Jackets finished at the very bottom of a league with decent but not great depth.

That's a low target for Scott Cross in his upcoming Year One. But he did repeat his belief that Georgia Tech could compete for championships– including the national title.

Now comes the tricky part. Win games. If he can make a solid and sustained leap in that direction, Cross won't be able to buy his own waffle (well- done , with blueberries) anywhere in the Atlanta area.

Patrick Conarro

RamblinSports