University of Vermont Athletics

Jim Cross Special Inductee - Coach

The architect for UVM hockey as we know it was Jim Cross, a 1996 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. Integrity, loyalty, and an untiring work ethic put Cross in a class of his own among college hockey coaches.

At the time of his announced retirement in 1983, former University of Vermont president, Lattie F. Coor, said: "In every respect, his vision represented the very best in intercollegiate sports. Under his leadership, UVM had an exciting hockey program and one that is compatible with the university's educational goals."

Wildly enthusiastic Gutterson Fieldhouse crowds, three Division II titles, scores of records that no Division II coach has ever matched, 16 All-Americans and national media attention was the work of one coach - Jim Cross. No hockey coach in the nation can lay claim to what Cross accomplished in a two-year span. From 1973-75, his coaching colleagues honored him as the nation's Division II Coach of the Year in 1974 and the next year, the school's first season in Division I, he was named the East's Division I Coach of the Year in 1975. In the 1973-74 season - UVM's last in Division II Cross's team set a UVM and ECAC record for most wins in one season (28).

In 1973-74, Vermont's first in Division I, he lead the Catamounts to a third-place finish and a trip to the Boston Garden for the ECAC Championships. Cross's Cinderella Catamounts defeated Cornell, 7-2, in the consolation game before more than 5,000 Vermont fans, including then Governor Tom Salmon. Vermont received the invitation to the Garden party by beating Providence, 7-5, in the opening round game of the ECAC playoffs in what had been hailed by many as the most exciting game ever played at Gutterson. The Catamounts trailed 5-2 with less than 10 minutes left in the game.

In nine seasons in Division II, Vermont was 113-42-1, including a mind-boggling winning percentage of .863 (78-12-1) the last five years, 1969-74. Consecutive seasons of 25-6 and 28-5 included a divisional mark of 37-1 and two ECAC Division II titles. That 113-42-1 Division II record, a .728 winning percentage, was the best in ECAC history at the time of his announcement to leave UVM.

After stepping down as hockey coach, Cross was presented the Schaeffer Pen Award by the New England Hockey Writers Association for his contributions to college hockey. On November 7, 1992, the Gutterson Fieldhouse renovation was officially dedicated. Earlier that evening, Cross was honored when the revamped varsity team room was officially named the Jim Cross Varsity Locker Room.

"No one gave more than Jim Cross," said Denis Lambert, one of three ADs Cross served under at Vermont. "He was fiercely loyal and made many personal sacrifices during his coaching days. Cross was a strict adherent to the rules and his players performed hard, but with integrity."

Another former head coach Mike Gilligan echoed Lambert's comments: "When I was at Yale (in the early 1980's), Jim had the reputation of being as honest a coach as there was in college hockey. His approach to the game and his integrity was unparalleled. When I came to UVM, he was absolutely great during the transition. I couldn't have come into a more supportive situation."

Best remembered for his contributions to hockey, Cross was also a head varsity coach in two other sports. After longtime baseball coach Ralph Lapointe passed away in 1967, Cross served as the interim coach in 1968. He also served as the varsity golf coach for 10 years, while instructing in the athletic department.

Cross retired from the university in 1994. In 1975, Boston University honored him with the Harry Cleverly Alumni Award, presented to the alumnus who has distinguished himself in the field of coaching. Cross is a 1960 graduate of Boston University. He came to Burlington in 1961 as a director of physical education at Lyman C. Hunt School where he remained until 1965 when he accepted a position as UVM's assistant hockey coach. He was named head coach in 1966. Cross was 280-251-9 in 19 seasons at Vermont.