ST. PAUL, Minn. – Legendary Catamount coach Jim Cross was named the 2019 recipient of the Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey Award. The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation made the announcement early Thursday afternoon.
 
RELATED LINKS
Hobey Baker Release
UVM Hall-of-Fame Bio – Jim Cross
 
Cross began his tenure at UVM ahead of the 1965-66 season and remained at the helm in Burlington through the 1983-84 season. In 19 years at Vermont, Cross owned a 280-251-9 record.
 
Cross quickly guided the Catamounts to the top of ECAC Division II, leading Vermont to back-to-back ECAC Division II championships in 1973 and 1974. He then brought UVM to Division I in the 1974-75 season, where Vermont finished third with a 24-12 overall record and 12-5 record in ECAC Division I contests. He retired from coaching following the 1983-84 season and remained with the University until 1994.

"The positive impact that Coach Cross had on his players, our hockey program, and all of UVM is indelible," said University of Vermont Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman. "It's very fitting that the Hobey Baker Foundation is recognizing him as one of the greatest college hockey coaches of all time.  On behalf of all of Catamount Country, congratulations to Jim and his wife Lorna on this exceptional honor." 
 
The University of Vermont honored Cross as a 1996 inductee to the UVM Athletics Hall of Fame. Cross is one of just three coaches to guide the men's hockey program in the last 54 years.
 
The former UVM coach will be honored at the 2019 Hobey Baker Award Banquet in St. Paul in May.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 men's hockey season