Weis Completes Coaching Staff By Hiring DeMontie Cross As Linebackers Coach
Jan. 19, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – DeMontie Cross was hired by Kansas football head coach Charlie Weis Thursday to coach the Jayhawk linebackers, as Weis completed his coaching staff at KU. Cross, who recently finished his first season as special teams coordinator and safeties coach at Wisconsin, arrives at Kansas with experience on both the collegiate and NFL level.
Prior to his year at Wisconsin, Cross spent the previous five seasons in various positions with the Buffalo Bills. He joined the Bills as a defensive/special teams assistant in 2006 and was then promoted to assistant linebackers coach/special teams for three seasons. In 2010 Cross was promoted again, coaching the Bills’ inside linebackers.
Cross made the jump to the NFL after spending the 2001-05 seasons as Iowa State’s outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. Cross’ unit made major contributions to the Cyclones’ record-setting defenses during his stint. He helped develop Jeremy Loyd into an All-Big 12 performer, who went on to play for the St. Louis Rams.
Cross spent the 2000 season coaching a defensive backfield at Sam Houston State that ranked second nationally (FCS). Cross’ Sam Houston State pass defense was led by free safety Keith Davis, who was the Southland Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year and started the 2005 season for the Dallas Cowboys at safety.
Cross, a St. Louis native, began his coaching career as the outside linebackers coach at his alma mater, Missouri (1998-99).
A 1997 Missouri graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Cross made 415 career tackles at free safety for the Tigers from 1994-96. He led Missouri in tackles as a junior and senior and earned second-team all-conference honors from the Big Eight in 1995 and the Big 12 in 1996.
Cross has two daughters, Jadyn and Sheridan.
With the hiring of Cross, Weis’ Kansas football coaching staff is complete and includes the following: Jeff Blasko (assistant special teams coordinator/tight ends), Clint Bowen (special teams coordinator/defensive backs), Dave Campo (defensive coordinator/defensive backs), Tim Grunhard (offensive line), Rob Ianello (recruiting coordinator/wide receivers), Reggie Mitchell (running backs), Ron Powlus (quarterbacks) and Buddy Wyatt (defensive line).
