For Immediate Release

Contact: Barbara K. Laskin or Doug Stone
March 29, 2005
(651) 696-6203

Athletic Director Irv Cross to take on new position at Macalester

Macalester Athletic Director Irv Cross today announced that he is stepping down from his position to assume other responsibilities at the college. Cross said he will remain athletic director until a successor is named following a national search.

In his new role, Cross will serve as defensive coordinator of the football team and as a fund-raising consultant to President Brian Rosenberg as the college plans for the construction of a new athletics and recreation center.

Cross, a former National Football League star defensive back and former CBS-TV broadcaster, has been at Macalester since June 1999. He continued to serve as a guest sports commentator on television and radio while at Macalester.

"I was drawn here primarily because of the college's core values of academics, internationalism, multiculturalism and service," he said. "It was my vision to develop winning athletic programs with students who also would be successful in the classroom, at one of the most select liberal arts colleges in the country. I believe this next step will afford me the opportunity to serve the college to help build a winning football program and to increase our overall alumni giving. I look forward to my next Macalester duties."

President Rosenberg praised Cross's work in athletics and his support for student-athletes. "Irv has done a great job balancing our desire to be competitive in athletics with our belief that our mission is to provide an outstanding liberal arts education," he said. "Irv never lost sight of that. He helped bring us a long way in six years, and we are fortunate to have him stay on and continue his work with football and in engaging our alumni community."

Rosenberg said Cross has contributed to Macalester in a number of ways including his ability to retain strong coaches, his work to raise the college's profile through the media and his creative efforts to continue the football program through the move to an independent schedule.

Rosenberg said he expects the national search to yield an excellent, highly qualified successor to Cross.

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