ULM head basketball coach Keith Richard has announced the promotion of Ryan Cross from assistant coach to associate head coach along with the hiring to two assistant coaches, in Ronnie Dean and Sam Waniewski.
Cross, a member of the ULM coaching staff for the last six seasons, has played an integral role in helping the Warhawks to two 20-win seasons and three trips to postseason play in the last four years.
“Ryan has done a great job for us over the last six years,” Richard said. “He’s been more than just someone who works for me; he’s been a true partner in helping me build and run a good program. This promotion in title is appropriate and well deserved.”
A 16-year coaching veteran, Dean’s coaching credits include stops at Jacksonville State (2014-16), Highland Community College (2008-10), Southeast Missouri State (2004-08), Jacksonville (2003-04), Montana (2002-03), Long Beach State (1999-2002), Cal State Fullerton (1997-98), Barton County Community College (1994-95), Lamar Community College (1993-94), Howard College (1992-93) and Forest Park Community College (1991-92). He also worked for five years for Rick Ball’s Ballplayers Scouting Service.
Dean, a native of Charleston, Missouri, earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis in 1990.
“Ronnie is a longtime veteran coach in this profession,” Richard said. “He brings a wealth of recruiting knowledge and experience to our staff. His contacts and relationships all over the country will help us open up new doors in recruiting.”
Waniewski comes to ULM following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Tallahassee (Florida) Community College. During the 2017-18 season, he worked with ULM signee Javien “JD” Williams.
A native of Woodland, California, Waniewski served as an assistant coach at Vincennes (Indiana) University in 2014-15, director of basketball operations at Furman in 2013-14 and video coordinator at Colorado State in 2012-13. He launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at both Concordia University (2010-11) and Southern Miss (2011-12).
Waniewski received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, coaching and administration from Chico State in 2010 and earned a Master of Science from Southern Miss in 2013.
“Sam is a young assistant, who has paid his dues and climbed the ladder in college coaching to get to this point,” Richard said. “He will be able to do a variety of things for us, including recruiting, and I’m excited about him joining our staff as well.”
