JOLIET – Dan Cross, a six-year veteran coaching at the collegiate level in the Chicago area, has been named head men’s soccer coach at University of St. Francis, athletic director Dave Laketa announced.
“In a field of quality candidates, the search committee felt confident that Dan Cross was the best person to lead the young men of our program both on and off the field moving forward,” Laketa said. “His experience as both a player and coach in our (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic) conference is a bonus for us and speeds up the learning curve of the league for him. It will help get us back to a competitive level in the conference and challenging for league titles sooner than later.”
Cross served as head women’s soccer coach at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago for the 2015 season. Inheriting a team with only five returning players, he boosted the roster to 24 by the start of the season through his recruiting efforts. By the end of the 13-game season, Cross’ club improved its goals differential by 54 from the previous year.
Prior to his one-year stint at Daley College, Cross spent two years (2013-14) as an assistant men’s coach at Saint Xavier, where he helped guide the Cougars to a pair of CCAC Tournament semifinal appearances and a combined 14-6-2 mark in conference play. The 2014 club placed third in the league standings, two points out of first place.
Cross gained his first collegiate coaching experience as an assistant with the men’s program at Elgin Community College, a post he held from 2006-07. In 2012, he served as an assistant coach at Illinois Institute of Technology, which at the time was a member of the CCAC.
Cross has a wealth of youth coaching experience as well, most recently as a staff coach for the Lyons Township Soccer Club beginning in 2013. He was also a staff coach of the Oak Park-River Forest Strikers and Chicago Edge teams from 2004-13.
“I will bring strong tactical ability as well as good communication skills to the program,” Cross said. “Having coached soccer in the Chicago area for 12 years, I have developed good contacts, which should help with recruiting quality players.”
A native of England, Cross spent four years (2001-04) as head coach at Arsenal Soccer Schools Academy in the North Kent region. He played semi-professional soccer in England for Beauwaters FC, Corinthians FC and Dartford FC. He also was a member of Wings SC in the Metropolitan Soccer League of Chicago.
Since 2012, Cross has been the owner of Grass Roots Soccer Academy, a business providing small group coaching, technical clinics, camps and tournaments in the Chicago area. He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma.
Cross was a four-year starter as a center back and a three-time All-CCAC first-team selection (2009-2011) at Saint Xavier. He graduated with a degree in communications in 2011.