Q&A with Coach Cross

Rocket Digest conducted a phone interview with new coach Gene Cross as the coach was out on the recruiting trail. What did Coach Cross have to say to answer the questions asked by Rocket fans across the country? What brought Coach Cross to Toledo? What does he know about the UT vs. BGSU rivalry? Find out all that and more inside.

Q: What attracted you to the Toledo coaching job?
A: I think first and foremost you have to look at the history of success in terms of wins, losses and league championships. As I stated in my press conference, if there’s been a history of success there, then you’re more apt to be able to repeat it. The level of commitment from the administration to having the best facilities making this a great situation as a head coach, and also to attract high level assistant coaches in important. The league is a terrific league. It’s a very competitive league and one where I feel that if you go through the rigors of the MAC conference, it’ll prepare you for an NCAA Tournament appearance. Also, the proximity to the hot beds in recruiting whether it’s the state of Ohio, which is very talent rich, the state of Michigan and Detroit, Indiana, and Illinois with Chicago, which is where I’m from, it lends itself to being able to go get the best players who are local. Amongst other things those are the things that have attracted me to the program.

Q: What is your vision for the basketball program in the next three years?
A: My vision for the program is to make sure all my students graduate. To provide them with the best experience they could ever have as a student-athlete, and help them meet there goals at an academic standpoint and a social standpoint. Helping them learn how to manage themselves while off the court or just outside of their comfort zone. Of course winning basketball games and winning championships and getting back to the NCAA Tournament after 29 years.

Q: Does that vision change if you change that to a five-year plan?
A: I think that graduation is the most important thing. Every year I want all these guys to leave here with a degree. That’s the most important thing. If you build a program the way that I foresee it, you tend to be able to recruit players that will come into the program and stay there for four years to create a certain culture where you don’t skip a beat once a class leaves. The older guys begin to teach the younger guys. In doing that you create a culture that lends itself to a solid and consistent program whether it be graduating players, winning championships or getting into postseason play.

Q: What do you know about the University of Toledo vs. Bowling Green State University rivalry?
A: You know, all I know is, when I first got here, no more than 10 minutes after my press conference, someone came up to me and said, “Coach, I’m going to tell you two things that you have to do. 1. Beat Bowling Green. 2. Beat Bowling Green again.” I’d have to say it’s pretty important.

Q: What can be done to create a more fan-friendly atmosphere at Savage Hall?
A: Ultimately, we have smart fans. Smart fans understand what good basketball is. If we create an environment where they understand that our guys are making great hustle plays, sharing the basketball, playing in an environment that promotes doing the little things it takes to win basketball games, I think fans will come out. They’ll appreciate the way our guys are playing whether it’s playing hard, playing smart or playing as a unit. Not just a unit, a cohesive unit.

Q: Would you be in favor of allowing banner’s, signs and rally towels back into Savage Hall for big games?
A: I have yet to sit down with our marketing people about that. In the places I’ve been, it’s ranged from none of that to a lot of that. I guess it just depends on what the marketing department wants. I didn’t lose a game when I was at our home court at Notre Dame, and there’s something to be said with having fans that are into it or having a student section that’s funny and gets into it. I’ve been into some really, really hostile environments as a visitor, and I’ll tell you what, you’ll get at least 10 points based on how your fans react to certain things and how much they’re into the game. That’s something that you know we might have to look into.

Q: What will your relationship with the fans be like?
A: You’re only as good as the people you put on the court, and the people who come to see what you put on the court. I think I’m one of the most accessible people that you can find. If anyone see’s me on the street, in the store, or wherever, I encourage people to stop and talk to me. I grocery shop and I go to the store. I’m just a coach at Toledo. I want to hear ideas. I want to hear what they think about the team. I want to hear what their thoughts are. I’m open. I’ll always be accessible to TV shows or radio shows win or lose. I plan on being out there and reaching out to people.

Q: Is there any chance preseason scrimmages will be open to season ticket holders?
A: I haven’t talked to our marketing department about that. It’s something that I’ve done at the past at schools that I’ve coached at. I welcome. I think it brings people into our world which is very important. You want to make sure that everyone feels like this is their team. This is the University of Toledo, this is the city of Toledo, this is Northwest Ohio, and this is your team. Whatever I can do to make sure people understand that and will feel apart of it, I’m willing to do it. I’ll have to talk to our marketing department about that, but I’ve got so many different ideas that are going to make this a great experience for our fans and our student-athletes.

Q: How animated do you see yourself being on the bench?
A: It’s funny, I’m a very intense and passionate, but I think you have to be respectful of officials, be respectful of who you are as a person. I’m animated to the degree that I want our players to see what I want done out there, or if I have to instruct them, but I don’t anticipate a wild man out there at all. I’m very respectful of the game and what it means. I’m respectful of all those young men and the fans. I am an intense guy so you will see me out there, but it’s also about what those guys are doing on the court and how they’re playing and how the fans interact with them to give them the best home court advantage there is.

Q: Have you made any more progress on the new assistant coaches and is there any type of time line in place?
A: I don’t really have a time line. I do have people and situations in mind, and I’m in the process of figuring that out. I think one of the most important things with the staff is chemistry and understanding that if you don’t have chemistry, then the players will pick up on it. There’s nothing worse than coming into the office and saying, “Man, I don’t want to be here with this guy.” We’re together so much that you just really want a positive work environment. I’m going to make sure that I take my time to get the best fit, but we still need to make sure we’re out there getting the best players possible. I’m not going to move too quickly, but I’m going to move quickly enough.

Q: How do you see the three-point line being pushed back to 20’9” effecting offensive strategy in college basketball?
A: A lot of times when you look at games, bad shooters can throw in three-point shots now. I think it’s going to open it up a little bit. Guys who aren’t as good from behind the arc will be encouraged to drive a little bit more and I would hope that it would encourage players to utilize the midrange game. The midrange game is sort of a lost art right now. Kids are either taking three’s or dunking. The midrange game is such an important aspect in basketball, and hopefully this will open the floor for people to drive lanes and then provide pitch out opportunities for guys who can hit the midrange jump shot. It should be a good thing.

Q: Will the change impact the offense you run at UT?
A: I don’t think so. Because it will open the floor, it will give some of our guys an opportunity to shoot into the lane. I want to get the highest percentage shot as possible. It may free up post play a little bit more, but I don’t think it’ll change that much. It might change the percentage of three-point shots that we take, but my approach offensively is still going to be pretty much the same.

Q: Will the change impact the defense you run?
A: I actually think it helps me defensively. The one thing we’ll do is guard the painted area and defend from there out. We’ll play the percentages, and usually shots that are taken further away from the basket are made less frequently. If we’re guarding from the paint area out and forcing them to shoot from further out, sometimes we’ll give up shots from further away, but, with the line further away, less three-point shots will go in and that will help us from the defensive end.

Q: How does the midrange jump shot fit into the offense you plan on running?
A: If you think about it, reading and reacting to screens, reading and reacting to defenders, reading and reacting to where screening action happens, and how defenders play it, our guys are going to get shots from all over the place, and ultimately we’re going to teach guys how to create scoring opportunities. Some of those scoring opportunities are going to come off of down screens or back screens where they’re going to have to make some of those reads. Maybe take a shot fake and a dribble without getting all the way to the rim. That is actually disciplined basketball because it’s taking what the defense gives you. A lot of times if you give a shot fake and someone buys it, you can take one or two dribbles before you get to another defender standing one or two feet ahead of you. If you can pull up on a dime and take a nice little midrange shot that’s smart basketball. I’m all about playing smart basketball.

Q: How important are free throws?
A: Free throws are an important part of any offensive issue. One of the things that I want to do, I want to make more free throws than our opponent attempts. If you’re doing that, you’re drawing fouls on the opponent. Two, you give yourself a chance to steal points, but you have to make them to steal them. One thing we’ll work on is that there’s a certain level of concentration that you’ve got to have. Our guys will have it towards getting up there and taking shots the right way, concentrating and being consistent with it. Also, you’ve got to have the right people with the ball in their hands to make those. You’ve got to get your shooters in a place where they can get to the free throw line.

Q: What areas do you anticipate being your recruiting base?
A: I’d like to recruit high school kids within a three or four hour drive of Toledo. That’s ultimately what I would envision the recruiting base to be. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t go outside of that area if there’s someone who fits academically, fits socially, and fits athletically. I’ve recruited all over the place for the other schools that I’ve been coaching at, so I’ve built some relationships there. You would like to recruit kids from the talent rich state of Ohio, also the state of Michigan, Chicago, and Indiana. That won’t stop me from going to Florida to get a kid or to Texas or Oregon to get a kid, though.

Q: Can Toledo recruit at a national level?
A: Absolutely. It’s about the city of Toledo. It’s a metropolitan area, but it’s a little smaller. It’s the university itself. It’s the conference. In my estimation, this is the best basketball job in the league. It can be compared to similar best basketball jobs in other leagues, and that’s how I vision it. That’s why it can attract people from around the country.

Q: Any plans for a late signing to complete the incoming recruiting class?
A: We’re still determining that and looking over the current roster. We’ve talked to the current kids who have already signed in the fall to determine where they’re at as well as determining where the team is at academically as well.

Q: Have you identified a position of need should you bring in another member to the class?
A: We have to have solid guard play. The point guard is probably the most important position on the floor, so if I was to say there was a glowing need, we’ve got Bastfield coming in, but you can never have too many good guards. If I would say there’s a pressing need right now, it would be at the point. Secondary, and probably point 1a would be a post.

Stay tuned to Rocket Digest for more news as Coach Cross further entrenches himself as the new front man of the Rockets basketball program.

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