WEST LAFAYETTE - Leading her teams from the sidelines, building support amongst loyal fans and John Purdue Club members, or strategizing with fellow employees on how to continue taking Purdue Athletics to the next level – there is very little longtime Purdue administrator Nancy Cross has not accomplished in her more than 40-year career with the Boilermakers.
One chapter on this incredible story will close and another will begin as Cross announced today (Monday, June 13) her retirement from Purdue University, effective June 30. The Boilermakers' Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator will complete a tenure this month that touched six different decades – a time span that saw tremendous success for Purdue in both competition, the classroom and the community, as well as incredible change in the industry of college athletics.
"There are very few people who have been as devoted and meant as much to a university and athletics department as Nancy Cross has to the Boilermakers," said Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mike Bobinski. "During her more than 40-year tenure at Purdue University, Nancy has served in nearly every role imaginable, from assistant coach, head coach, marketing director, John Purdue Club director and most recently as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. She has tirelessly forged a path that has impacted thousands of people, including student-athletes, coaches, John Purdue Club members and countless others, leaving a lasting impression of what it means to be a true Boilermaker. Our entire department is grateful to Nancy for her dedicated service and wishes her the very best in the years ahead."
Cross joined Purdue's staff as assistant field hockey and assistant women's basketball coach in 1977, and only departed the Old Gold & Black briefly, serving as the head coach for both the women's basketball team and women's tennis team at her alma mater, Ashland (Ohio) College from 1978-79. She returned to the Boilermakers immediately following that season to resume her roles with field hockey and women's basketball. Since 1979, countless student-athletes, department coworkers, university colleagues, conference counterparts, fans and donors have had the pleasure to cross paths with "Nance".
"I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend my entire professional career with Purdue University Athletics," said Cross. "Whether it was impacting, or more accurately being impacted by, the Boilermaker student-athletes I had the privilege to coach, engaging our tremendously generous and loyal John Purdue Club members, or working closely with our outstanding coaches and support staff members, the opportunity to work every day to provide the best academic and athletic experience for all our student-athletes was a dream come true. I wish all our programs great success as they navigate this new world of intercollegiate athletics."
Cross elevated to guide Purdue's field hockey program as head coach in 1981, leading the Boilermakers to a 66-60-16 record (1981-88). She was honored as the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year in 1987. At the conclusion of the 1983-84 women's basketball season, Cross traded in one of her whistles for a new role: promotions coordinator for Purdue Athletics. After four successful years wearing both hats (1984-88), Cross left behind field hockey and promotions for the John Purdue Club, working as an assistant director from 1988-93.
Six years of building relationships with donors, season ticket holders and the local community allowed Cross to continue her climb, as she ascended to director of the John Purdue Club in 1993. Cross was elevated to a higher leadership position by former director of athletics Morgan Burke in 1999, moving into the position of associate athletics director for marketing and development (1999-2004).
Cross has served as Senior Woman Administrator for Purdue Athletics since 2000, which has included sport program oversight of several Boilermaker squads, such as: men's basketball, women's basketball, men's and women's golf, soccer, softball and men's and women's tennis.
A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, Cross has been very active in campus and community service. She has been the recipient of many campus honors and awards, including Outstanding Advisor by the Purdue Foundation Student Board and Outstanding Woman (sports category) by Greater Lafayette.
In 2020, Cross was honored by the Purdue Alumni Association with the organization's Special Boilermaker Award. The annual honor is presented to a member of the University's faculty or staff who have contributed significantly to the improved quality of life and the betterment of the educational experience for a substantial number of Purdue students.
Cross helped the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis host the 1987 Pan American Games during her time as Purdue's field hockey head coach, serving as commissioner for the field hockey portion of the event. Additionally, she assisted with the World Gymnastics Championships' local organizing committee in 1991.
One chapter on this incredible story will close and another will begin as Cross announced today (Monday, June 13) her retirement from Purdue University, effective June 30. The Boilermakers' Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator will complete a tenure this month that touched six different decades – a time span that saw tremendous success for Purdue in both competition, the classroom and the community, as well as incredible change in the industry of college athletics.
"There are very few people who have been as devoted and meant as much to a university and athletics department as Nancy Cross has to the Boilermakers," said Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mike Bobinski. "During her more than 40-year tenure at Purdue University, Nancy has served in nearly every role imaginable, from assistant coach, head coach, marketing director, John Purdue Club director and most recently as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. She has tirelessly forged a path that has impacted thousands of people, including student-athletes, coaches, John Purdue Club members and countless others, leaving a lasting impression of what it means to be a true Boilermaker. Our entire department is grateful to Nancy for her dedicated service and wishes her the very best in the years ahead."
Cross joined Purdue's staff as assistant field hockey and assistant women's basketball coach in 1977, and only departed the Old Gold & Black briefly, serving as the head coach for both the women's basketball team and women's tennis team at her alma mater, Ashland (Ohio) College from 1978-79. She returned to the Boilermakers immediately following that season to resume her roles with field hockey and women's basketball. Since 1979, countless student-athletes, department coworkers, university colleagues, conference counterparts, fans and donors have had the pleasure to cross paths with "Nance".
"I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend my entire professional career with Purdue University Athletics," said Cross. "Whether it was impacting, or more accurately being impacted by, the Boilermaker student-athletes I had the privilege to coach, engaging our tremendously generous and loyal John Purdue Club members, or working closely with our outstanding coaches and support staff members, the opportunity to work every day to provide the best academic and athletic experience for all our student-athletes was a dream come true. I wish all our programs great success as they navigate this new world of intercollegiate athletics."
Cross elevated to guide Purdue's field hockey program as head coach in 1981, leading the Boilermakers to a 66-60-16 record (1981-88). She was honored as the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year in 1987. At the conclusion of the 1983-84 women's basketball season, Cross traded in one of her whistles for a new role: promotions coordinator for Purdue Athletics. After four successful years wearing both hats (1984-88), Cross left behind field hockey and promotions for the John Purdue Club, working as an assistant director from 1988-93.
Six years of building relationships with donors, season ticket holders and the local community allowed Cross to continue her climb, as she ascended to director of the John Purdue Club in 1993. Cross was elevated to a higher leadership position by former director of athletics Morgan Burke in 1999, moving into the position of associate athletics director for marketing and development (1999-2004).
Cross has served as Senior Woman Administrator for Purdue Athletics since 2000, which has included sport program oversight of several Boilermaker squads, such as: men's basketball, women's basketball, men's and women's golf, soccer, softball and men's and women's tennis.
A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, Cross has been very active in campus and community service. She has been the recipient of many campus honors and awards, including Outstanding Advisor by the Purdue Foundation Student Board and Outstanding Woman (sports category) by Greater Lafayette.
In 2020, Cross was honored by the Purdue Alumni Association with the organization's Special Boilermaker Award. The annual honor is presented to a member of the University's faculty or staff who have contributed significantly to the improved quality of life and the betterment of the educational experience for a substantial number of Purdue students.
Cross helped the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis host the 1987 Pan American Games during her time as Purdue's field hockey head coach, serving as commissioner for the field hockey portion of the event. Additionally, she assisted with the World Gymnastics Championships' local organizing committee in 1991.