About Dan Cross

Dan Cross Jr. is a University of Florida Basketball Hall of Fame member and

former point guard for the first Gator basketball team to advance to the NCAA Final Four. A two-time All-American and 1995 UF Male Athlete of the Year, Dan’s impact on the game earned recognition at every level, including induction into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.

Following a professional basketball career that took him across 10 countries and more than 25 worldwide, Dan transitioned his global experience into leadership, education, and service.

Dan is a celebrated athlete, philanthropist, social impact entrepreneur, and community visionary whose journey spans from the inner courts of Carbondale, Illinois, to the global stage.

Born in Chicago and raised as the eldest of five children, Dan learned leadership, resilience, and purpose early in life — values that would later define his legacy on and off the court.

Driven by passion to serve the next generation Dan is the founder of Athlete Connections Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming youth sports through life skills education, mentorship, and academic support. His mission is to utilize sports to empower at-risk youth, build character and teach essential life skills designed through proven programs to help reach highest academic and athletic achievements, inspiring personal excellence!

While his foundation’s roots are in athletics, his vision has grown to support diverse programs and passions from sports to the arts, scholarship funds, holiday toy drives and beyond.

Under his leadership, the foundation has supported more than hundreds of high school students with laptops, technology access, and scholarships. Securing high school graduating students and athletes an estimated $7 million in college scholarships. His foundation has served over 5000 families through its community "December to Remember" Christmas holiday toy drive outreach initiatives.

Expanding his mission beyond athletics, Dan is also the founder of Cross Academy LMS, an online life skills curriculum serving public and private educational institutions.

He currently serves on the University of Florida Gator Booster Board of Directors and the UF Hall of Fame Board of Directors.continuing to influence the athletic community with leadership rooted in purpose, discipline, and service.

At every level — athlete, mentor, founder, global citizen, and changemaker — Dan Cross remains committed to inspiring young people to dream big, prepare hard, and lead with impact. A proud father and mentor, Dan lives in Orlando, Florida.

Dan Cross Jr. is a University of Florida Basketball Hall of Fame member and former point guard for the first Gator basketball team to advance to the NCAA Final Four. A two-time All-American and 1995 UF Male Athlete of the Year, Dan’s impact on the game earned recognition at every level, including induction into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.

Following a professional basketball career that took him across 10 countries and more than 25 worldwide, Dan transitioned his global experience into leadership, education, and service.

Dan is a celebrated athlete, philanthropist, social impact entrepreneur, and community

visionary whose journey spans from the inner courts of Carbondale, Illinois, to the global stage.

Born in Chicago and raised as the eldest of five children, Dan learned leadership, resilience, and

purpose early in life — values that would later define his legacy on and off the court.

Driven by passion to serve the next generation, Dan is the founder of Athlete Connections Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming youth sports through life skills education, mentorship, and academic support. His mission is to utilize sports to empower at-risk youth, build character and teach essential life skills designed through proven programs to help reach the highest academic and athletic achievements, inspiring personal excellence!

While his foundation’s roots are in athletics, his vision has grown to support diverse programs

and passions from sports to the arts, scholarship funds, holiday toy drives and beyond.

Under his leadership, the foundation has supported more than hundreds of high school students with laptops, technology access, and scholarships.

Securing high school graduating students and athletes an estimated $7 million in college scholarships.

His foundation has served over 5000 families through its community "December to Remember" Christmas holiday toy drive outreach initiatives.

Expanding his mission beyond athletics, Dan is also the founder of Cross Academy LMS, an online life skills curriculum serving public and private educational institutions.

He currently serves on the University of Florida Gator Booster Board of Directors and the UF Hall of Fame Board of Directors continuing to influence the athletic community with leadership rooted in purpose, discipline, and service.

At every level — athlete, mentor, founder, global citizen, and changemaker — Dan Cross remains committed to inspiring young people to dream big, prepare hard, and lead with impact.

A proud father and mentor, Dan lives in Orlando, Florida.

Basketball Credentials

Dan Cross Jr. a celebrated athlete established himself as a force in basketball early on, earning recognition as a two-time All-American and serving as the point guard for the University of Florida team that reached the NCAA Final Four. His collegiate career was distinguished by accolades including 1995 UF Male Athlete of the Year, a John Wooden Player of the Year nomination culminating in his induction into the University of Florida Basketball Hall of Fame. From the outset, his talent, leadership, and competitive drive set him apart.

Global Professional Experience

After college, Dan’s professional career took him around the globe, allowing him to play basketball in 10 countries and traveling to more than twenty-five. These experiences gave him a unique perspective on leadership, teamwork and cultural adaptability, shaping the way he approaches sports, businessa and life.

Hall of Fame Recognition

Dan’s impact on the game has been recognized at every level. He is not only an inductee of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, but also a member of the inaugural Carbondale High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. These honors serve as independent validation of his achievements and contributions to the sport.

Philanthropic Impact

Beyond the court, Dan has dedicated himself to empowering the next generation of youth, athletes and leaders. Through the Athlete Connections Foundation, which he founded, he has provided technology support, laptops, and scholarships to hundreds of high school students and has helped secure over seven million dollars in athletic scholarships. The foundation’s annual Christmas Holiday Toy Drive has also served more than 5000 families in Orlando’s downtown District 5 & District 6 community's of Parramore. His philanthropic efforts reflect a commitment to giving back and fostering real-world success for youth and underserved families.

Entrepreneurship & Education Innovation

Dan’s leadership extends into education and business through Cross Academy LMS, an online learning life skills and workbook curriculum he founded. The platform bridges the gap between athletics, academics, and practical life skills, providing students with tools to succeed both on and off the court. Through this work, Dan has positioned himself as a thought leader in youth development and educational innovation.

Board Leadership

Dan serves on the University of Florida Gator Booster Board of Directors and the UF Hall of Fame Board of Directors, bringing strategic oversight and governance experience to these institutions. His participation reflects both his ongoing commitment to the UF community and his ability to contribute at the highest levels of leadership.

Family & Legacy

A proud father and mentor, Dan’s legacy continues through his children. His son, Daniel Isaiah, played football at the University of Florida and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sports Administration while his daughter, Rachel Olivia, is a UF graduate currently pursuing law school at Florida International University. Dan lives in Orlando, Florida, where he balances family, business and his ongoing professional and philanthropic efforts.