Scott Cross fired at UTA

[Green Mean]

Just saw this news that Scott Cross has been fired at UTA.  Interesting situation...could be more to this story to come out later on perhaps?

https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2018/03/26/ut-arlington-fires-mens-basketball-coach-scott-cross

[Mean Green 93-98]

Wow.  Either they are ready to step up with the big boys, financially speaking, or they are incredibly stupid.

[Harry]

Money saving move?  Certainly a dumb move...

[CMJ]

Recruiting violation maybe?

[Wag Tag]

Uh O

[TheTastyGreek]

9 minutes ago, CMJ said:

Recruiting violation maybe?

They specifically mentioned running "a program that operates with honor and integrity". So, probably not anything that's an NCAA violation. 

He just re-upped an extension in 2016, and they're buying out at least two years of that deal. So, can't be a financial move, because unless someone is going to pay to coach there, they'll be spending more money for the next two years than if they'd just kept him through the end of the current deal. 

Either there's an internal problem, or a non-program ethical issue. The fact that EVERYONE is out from that coaching staff makes me think it's likelier to be an internal problem... But the same AD that just fired Cross re-upped him to at least two extensions that I can remember. So, how is it a power struggle or a boss/subordinate fight?

And if it is a Petrino/Eustachy/etc. type non-sports personal issue... Why fire all of the assistants from a team that's had 3 straight 20 win seasons and almost made the NCAA Tournament this year? Wouldn't you want at least some continuity in that situation? 

Very, very weird. Curious to see what really happened here. 

 

[Green P1]

Seems hasty.  They probably should have continued to evaluate things while he finished out his contract. 

[Harry]

 

[TreeFiddy]

13 minutes ago, Green P1 said:

Seems hasty.  They probably should have continued to evaluate things while he finished out his contract. 

Exactly, UTA's Baker waited over 6 years to fire Cross.  What's the rush?

[Harry]

 

[chrisfisher]

That was very stupid. He had them playing consistently good to great bbal. 

[southsideguy]

he will be employed tomorrow if he wants to be.  UTA made a bad mistake with this move.

[ADLER]

Horribly foolish.

I have watched UTA sports for over 30 years and Scott Cross is the best thing that has ever happened for that athletic department.

[emmitt01]

Dear UTA athletic director, 

 

[Rudy]

STUPID!

[MeanMag]

That article says, they want to be in the NCAA tournament every year. Then says they want to be UMBC...

I don't want to say UMBC will not be back any time soon, but they certainly do not have a history of making it consistently.

[GangGreen]

Does this improve our chances against them next year?

[FirefightnRick]

2 hours ago, ADLER said:

Horribly foolish.

I have watched UTA sports for over 30 years and Scott Cross is the best thing that has ever happened for that athletic department.

Remember though...this is the same goofy program that ran off Donna Capps, who took them to two NCAA's in three years.

STUPID!

 

Rick

Edited March 27, 2018 by FirefightnRick

[Mean Green Matt]

Decent chance he ends up with a better gig. Would love to know what the couple of UTA guys that post on here every so often think about it. 

[greenminer]

Quote

It's about AD Jim Baker wanting to hire his own guy to run the program. Baker didn't originally hire Cross.

Hasn't Cross been under Baker's watch for over 5 years?

This is up there with the top idiotic moves I've ever seen in DFW sports.  Somewhere above anything/everything Cowboys and next in line below our retention of Benford.

[Cooley]

30 minutes ago, GangGreen said:

Does this improve our chances against them next year?

No, but them losing Hervey and Neal does; at a time when UNT returns quite a bit

[EagleMBA]

This is a real shocker. I remember when many here wanted him to replace Benford. Cross and staff will land on their feet. The guy is a winner.

[MeanGreen13]

Barring any ethical issues, I'd gladly take him here as an interim hire "analyst" in the athletic department... would probably be good for 3-4 extra wins next year.

[FirefightnRick]

18 minutes ago, Cooley said:

No, but them losing Hervey and Neal does; at a time when UNT returns quite a bit

I know he was a hot topic after his Freshman and Sophomore years but what is Hervey's draft chances now?

 

Rick

Edited March 27, 2018 by FirefightnRick

[TreeFiddy]

With the pace that people around here seem to want coaches and staff fired, kind of surprised more people aren't applauding the AD for raising expectations for the coach and then holding him accountable.