Holy Cross head coach Brett Nelson has announced his complete men’s basketball staff for the 2019-2020 season. R.J. Evans and Sam Ferry have both been named assistant coaches, while assistant coach Joe Kennedy and director of operations Max Ginsberg have been retained.
“I am really excited that we have been able to put together a tremendous staff of high-integrity, high-energy individuals,” said Nelson. “All of them are motivated, competitive, committed and unselfish. They will help our program and our community each and every day, and I am looking forward to working with each of them.”
Evans returns to Holy Cross after spending the 2018-2019 season as an assistant coach at North Carolina-Asheville. He was previously an assistant coach at Louisville in 2017-2018, helping the Cardinals to an overall record of 22-14 and a trip to the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals. Evans also spent two years as a graduate assistant at Texas (2015-2017) and one year as an assistant coach at Nichols (2014-2015). A 2012 graduate of Holy Cross with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Evans scored 1,200 career points for the Crusaders and was named the 2009 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. He then played one post-graduate season at Connecticut in 2012-2013. Evans received a master’s degree in educational psychology from Connecticut in 2013 and a master’s degree in kinesiology from Texas in 2017.
Nelson on Evans: “R.J. is a terrific coach and recruiter, and an even better person. He is a former Holy Cross player who bleeds purple, and I know he will have a great connection with everyone in our alumni base.”
Ferry joins the Crusaders after spending the 2018-2019 season as an assistant coach at Cleveland State. He was previously an assistant coach at Pittsburgh during the 2017-2018 campaign. Prior to that, Ferry spent six seasons on the staff at Monmouth from 2011-2017. He joined the Hawks as the director of basketball operations in 2011, before being promoted to assistant coach prior to the 2013-2014 season. Ferry helped lead Monmouth to a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season titles, with the Hawks winning 28 games in 2015-2016 and 27 games in 2016-2017. A 2010 graduate of Vanderbilt with a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development, Ferry spent four years as a student manager for the Commodores before serving as the team’s director of video operations in 2010-2011.
Nelson on Ferry: “Sam is a relentless worker who has been a part of some highly successful programs. He is great at developing relationships, brings great energy and enthusiasm, and is a true student of the game.
Kennedy has been on the Holy Cross coaching staff for four years, with the Crusaders posting a 6-3 mark in the Patriot League Tournament during that time. In 2015-2016, he helped the Crusaders to their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1953 and their first Patriot League Tournament title since 2007, while becoming the first team in conference history to win four postseason games on the road. Prior to his time at Holy Cross, Kennedy served as a video coordinator for the Sacramento Kings (2014-2015), the director of player personnel at Oregon State (2013-2014) and the director of men’s basketball operations at Northwestern (2010-2013). A 2007 graduate of Northwestern with a bachelor’s degree in education and social policy, Kennedy was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Nelson on Kennedy: “Joe is well versed in all facets of being a coach, including recruiting, on-floor coaching and player development. I have been very impressed with his knowledge of Holy Cross, his character and how he truly cares about our student-athletes.”
Ginsberg is entering his second year with the Crusaders, after serving as the team’s volunteer video coordinator during the 2018-2019 season. He was in charge of using game analysis and scouting software to provide edits and reports to the coaching staff, in addition to evaluating film and developing scouting reports. Ginsberg came to Holy Cross from Cornell University, where he worked with the men’s basketball program for four years. He served as the assistant to the director of basketball operations during the 2017-2018 season, assisting with practice plans, scouting reports, film editing and travel arrangements. Ginsberg also spent three years as the team’s head student manager. In addition, he was the director of the Cornell summer basketball camp in 2017, while working as a coach at summer camps for Holy Cross and UCLA.
Nelson on Ginsberg: “Max is very proactive, organized and smart. He is a true team guy who will make our program better each and every day.”
Holy Cross will be entering its first year under Nelson in 2019-2020. The Crusaders finished the 2018-2019 campaign with an overall record of 16-17.
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