Remembering Tony Cross: Photo Gallery Through the Years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Former Belmont University women's basketball coach and Belmont Athletics Hall of Famer ('94) Tony Cross, 64, passed away Wednesday in Murray, Kentucky.

"Our entire Belmont Athletics' family is deeply saddened by Tony's passing," Belmont University Director of Athletics Scott Corley said. "Tony's impact upon this university – and the student-athletes he coached and mentored – was profound, as evidenced by the lasting relationships he forged. Tony loved nothing more than staying connected with former student-athletes and staff members; beaming with pride as they embarked on career paths and began families of their own. While tall in stature, Tony was anything but an imposing figure. He was as approachable and easygoing as they come. Any measure of success our women's basketball program has enjoyed is a credit to Tony. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Lois, and the family."

Inheriting the Belmont program from university matriarch Betty Wiseman, Cross served as Belmont's head women's basketball coach from 1984 to 2010 and led the program through its transition from NAIA to the NCAA Division I level. During his 26 year tenure, Cross had a career record of 544-255, including 23 consecutive seasons of a .500 record or better. Cross remains the winningest coach in program history and ranks Top 50 all-time in career victories in NCAA women's basketball.



During his 15 years of coaching at the NAIA level, he built a program that became a force on the national stage. He led the program to four NAIA Tournament appearances, two District titles, and one conference championship. In addition, he coached three NAIA All-Americans (Aimee Smith, Kelli Davis, Chrissie Herring) and numerous All-Conference performers.



That success on the NAIA level continued as the program moved to NCAA Division I in 1997. That seamless transition cemented Belmont as a perennial contender, claiming three Atlantic Sun regular season championships, and one Atlantic Sun Tournament title.

In 2007, Coach Cross led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, as the Bruins faced SEC power Georgia in Minneapolis.

While in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Cross produced at least one All-Atlantic Sun First Team honoree every year. Under Cross' tutelage, future WNBA player Alysha Clark became the first player in Atlantic Sun history to receive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in the same season (2005-06).

Cross also led teams that achieved tremendous success in the classroom, as for nine years the Bruins were among the top-15 of the Women's Basketball Coaches of America (WBCA) Top-25 Academic Honor Roll.

After finishing his career at Belmont in 2010, Cross joined the Murray State women's basketball staff, where he remained active as an assistant coach up until this past season. During his time in Murray, Cross assisted with player development, academics and recruiting.

The Knoxville, Tennessee native graduated from Belmont in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, while earning four letters on the men's basketball team.



He began his coaching career at Norma Elementary School where he led the boys' and girls' basketball teams for three seasons. Cross then spent four seasons at Lake City High School as the head girls coach, winning over 100 games during his tenure. In his fourth season at Lake City, he was named the East Tennessee Coach of the Year after directing the team to a 35-1 record along with a No. 1 ranking in Class AA. He then spent a season at Anderson City High School girls' team.

In 1983-84, he served as a graduate assistant for the legendary Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee, where he earned his master's degree before taking the head position at Belmont.

Visitation will take place Saturday, April 22 from 1-3 p.m. at J.H. Churchill Funeral Home in Murray, Kentucky. A memorial service will follow.