Albany native Martin Cross, left, will now be referred to as Coach Cross at Western Kentucky University, as he has been named an Assistant Coach / Video Coordinator for the men’s basketball program. Cross is shown here during the recent Hilltoppers Youth Basketball Camp, alongside two local campers that week also from Albany, Steele Burchett and Jaxon Mason. Another Clinton County figure who will be wearing the red and white Hilltopper uniform this coming basketball season, Keifer Dalton, right, was also working with the young players during the Hilltopper Camp. Dalton, a 2015 Clinton County High School graduate and standout basketball player, will play this season for the Hilltoppers.

Albany native Martin Cross is beginning to see his dream of climbing the basketball coaching ladder come true and this season while working with the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, his official title has now elevated to “Coach Cross.”

Cross, the son of David and Jennifer Cross of Albany, attended and graduated from Russell County High School in 2011 where he played basketball and baseball for the Lakers.

The Western Kentucky University Sports Information Department announced on Tuesday of last week that Martin Cross will take over the role of Video Coordinator for the men’s basketball program

Cross graduated in May of this year with a degree in Physical Education and Health Education. He also served as a student-manager for the WKU Men’s Basketball program for four years during his time as a student.

In 2012 and 2013, two of the years that Cross served as a manager, the Hilltoppers reached the NCAA Tournament.

Cross said that he was very excited to hear the news of his promotion, as he said that it was the realization of a life-time goal.

“To be a part of a college staff was something that was always a goal of mine, so obviously when I learned that I was being hired as Video Coordinator for the team I was very excited for my opportunity to achieve a goal of mine,” Cross said.

There have been several instances of coaches at the collegiate and professional level who began their careers as video coordinators. Cross said that he hopes to stay in the coaching profession and work his way up the coaching ladder.

“My ultimate goal is to stay in the coaching profession and to gradually climb the coaching ladder,” Cross said.

As a student-manager for four years, Cross said he had several duties that will prepare him for his new role. Some of these duties between the two jobs will overlap. He said that he performed a variety of duties including, but not limited to: practice and game filming, coordinating camps, assisting in drills, game day operations, and assisting in team travel.

In his new role as Video Coordinator, Cross said that his main duties will consist of breaking down opponents’ film for the coaches and players, assisting coaches in preparing scouting reports, assisting the Director of Basketball Operations, and various other tasks.

Cross will also work with Coach Ray Harper’s Summer Camps and will oversee the student-managers.

“It is quite enjoyable to be able to work for a program that you grew up a fan of. While most people grew up cheering for UK or UofL, I always grew up cheering for WKU first and foremost,” Cross said.

Cross said he has had the opportunity to meet some of the players he grew up watching, which he said has been a very enjoyable aspect of his job. Having a job that he has a passion for is something that Cross said is very important to him.

“It makes coming to work a lot more enjoyable when you are working for something that you feel passionate about,” Cross said.

Cross said he is thankful for a number of people in his life, but said that his family and his teachers and coaches at Russell County High School have been very instrumental in his life.

“Obviously my family has always been supportive and instrumental in any success I have had in life,” Cross said. “Other than family my greatest influence would have to had been the teachers and coaches I have during my times at RCHS who helped mold me even more so into who I am today. I could never have asked for a better or more diverse group of coaches from all sports to look up to and learn from.”

As for where he thinks his career will go from this point, Cross said he’s unsure. He said he hopes to gradually climb the coaching ladder, but he’s not sure as to what level and to what extent. However, Cross said that he plans to continue to work hard and he believes the rest will take care of itself.

“My philosophy has always been to work hard and just let everything else take care of itself,” Cross said. “I am hoping that if I continue on this track, that many doors will be opened up for me to make a profession of doing something that I love to do.”

[Editor’s note: The information for this article was taken with permission from an article appearing in the Russell County News Register, written by staff reporter Zac Oakes.