Comets Add Tom Cross as Director of Player Personnel
Published on January 20, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release
HOUSTON â The Houston Comets announced today the addition of Tom Cross to the newly created position of Comets Director of Player Personnel. Cross will assist Comets Head Coach and General Manager Van Chancellor in evaluating WNBA personnel, international and developmental league players as well as college draft prospects. In addition, Cross will help with team salary cap matters.
"We are so pleased to add Tom to this new position of Director of Player Personnel," said Coach Chancellor. "His expertise in this area helped to build the foundation of a WNBA championship team in Detroit."
Cross (Texas â95) comes to the Comets after serving as an assistant coach (2003-04) and as associate head coach (2004-05) with the University of Memphis Lady Tigers. While at Memphis, Cross worked as the on-the-court coach of the guards and oversaw individual skills development. He also served as the international recruiting coordinator and handled the Lady Tigers schedule.
Prior to his work with the Lady Tigers, Cross spent five seasons with the Detroit Shock. Cross joined the Shock as a staff assistant from the inception of the team in 1998. He was promoted to an assistant coach beginning with the 1999 season, and was later elevated to the title of Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting following the 2000 campaign.
Considered an excellent evaluator of talent, Cross has scouted prospects in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. During his two years as Director of Scouting with the Shock, Detroit selected Deanna Nolan and Swin Cash with its first-round picks. A tribute to his ability to scout talent, Cash and Nolan were both 2003 WNBA All-Stars.
Before moving into the professional ranks, Cross worked as an administrative intern at Game Plan, Inc., a Miami, FL, based marketing firm that was responsible for producing and selling sponsorships for the football coach's show at the University of Miami. While employed with Game Plan, Cross completed his master's degree in sports administration in 1998 from St. Thomas University in Miami.
A native of Dallas, TX, Cross earned his bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. He played one season of Division II basketball at Abilene Christian University (1991-92) before transferring to UT. He is married to the former Jae Kingi of Australia, who was a point guard for the Detroit Shock (2001, 2004) and is currently a member of the Phoenix Mercury (2004). The couple has two daughters, Jenisha and Taylor Leigh.
The Comets enter their ninth season of play in 2005. To purchase season tickets, mini-plans or group tickets for the 2005 Houston Comets, call (713) 627-WNBA or go online at www.houstoncomets.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from January 20, 2005
- Comets Add Tom Cross as Director of Player Personnel - Houston Comets
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