COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Abe Cross has been named the assistant wrestling coach and assistant athletic administrator for Lindsey Wilson College the school announced on Wednesday. Cross served as an athletic administration intern and volunteer assistant wrestling coach for Blue Raider athletics last year.

"Abe was the easy pick to become our first full-time assistant wrestling coach and assistant athletics administrator," Lindsey Wilson athletic director Willis Pooler said. "He excelled in a similar role last year during his internship with us. He understands our mission and is committed to help develop the academic and athletic skills of our student-athletes."

Cross held a variety of wrestling coaching experience before arriving at Lindsey Wilson. Most recently, he served as assistant coach at Lowell High School in Michigan. Cross helped Lowell earn the 2009 Division II Michigan State Championship and coached seven all-state selections.

"We're very fortunate to have someone like Abe to mentor our student-athletes," Lindsey Wilson head wrestling coach Corey Ruff said. "He embodies everything you want in a young coach with his work ethic, intelligence, compassion, responsibility and just being an all-around great person."

A number of club programs havebeen coached byCross, including the Red Arrow Wrestling Club in 2008-09 and Team Michigan Gold in 2007. Cross was a volunteer coach for the Perry Wrestling Club in 2003-04.

Cross wrestled collegiately at Michigan State University where he was a three-time letter winner and Academic All-Big Ten selection for the Spartans.

At Perry High School, Cross was a two time All-State team member and set the school record for takedowns in a single season.

"Abe has been an asset to our entire athletic department and now the wrestling program is going to reap the benefits in a full-time capacity," Ruff said. "It has everyone in our program fired up."