Under the guidance of one of the brightest soccer minds in the game, the UTEP women's soccer program has blossomed into a perennial conference contender and a force in the NCAA's Central Region.

Kevin Cross, who completed his sixth year as head coach in the fall of 2006, has experienced plenty of success since assuming the reigns of the program in 2001.

The Miners have piled up 75 victories the past five years. The result has not only been five straight winning seasons for the initial time in program history, but 10-plus victories each year as well. Moreover, with a career winning percentage of .672, Cross ranks 27th among all division I women's soccer coaches.

His teams have excelled in the classroom, as well, as the Miners have secured the Athletic Director's award- which is given to the team at UTEP with the top GPA- every year since Cross became head coach.

Cross' enthusiasm and passion for UTEP has helped him build a loyal fan base, evidenced by the Miners leading Conference USA in attendance in 2006. That effort has made University Field one of the toughest places to play in the country. The Miners, who went 10-0 in El Paso in 2006, have compiled a staggering record of 42-5 at home since 2002.

UTEP went 15-6 in 2006, setting school records in goals allowed (20), goals against average (0.93) and shutouts (11). Six of those blankings were consecutive, which also set a school standard. The Miners scored 56 goals-the third-highest sum in program annals- to pace Conference USA, with their average of 2.67 placing them 12th nationally. UTEP also led the league in save percentage, checking in 14th in the country.

The Orange and Blue defeated No. 17 Rice, 1-0, in front of a school-record 1,106 fans on Oct. 8. It marked the highest ranked opponent that the Miners have defeated in the history of the program. Additionally, the match was carried by College Sports Television, the first-ever nationally-televised game from the Sun City. On Oct. 22, UTEP blanks No. 25 Colorado College for its program best second victory on the year against a ranked foe.

Individuals continued to be noticed for their play, as five different players combined to reel in a program-best-tying six league player of the week accolades, including sweeping the award two straight weekends. Nationally, four different Miners were placed on national teams of the week a school-record eight times.

In 2005, in its first campaign in Conference USA, UTEP put together the most successful season in school history. The Miners established a program standard for victories (20) on the way to earning their initial berth into the NCAA Tournament. Against rival Texas, UTEP posted a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory in Austin to punch its ticket into the second round.

The Orange and Blue, who earned the highest national ranking (31st) of any C-USA member institution, continued to thrive in all facets of the game, ranking 10th nationally in scoring offense, while registering a then program-tying-best eight shutouts.

Cross' team flourished in the classroom as well, with Jami Tullius garnering Academic All-America honors. It marked the program's third honoree in the past four years. Additionally, 13 Miners received academic distinction from C-USA.

In 2004, the Miners won 13 games - including a 3-2 triumph over 20th-ranked SMU - and finished second in the WAC at 5-2-1. UTEP also ranked 28th nationally in scoring and spent much of the campaign among the SoccerBuzz.com Central Region top 10.

UTEP also excelled off the field as nine Miners were named Academic All-WAC for the third consecutive year. Additionally, Heather Clark became the program's second Academic All-America honoree in the last three years, joining 2002 recipient Holly Cohen.

In 2003, Cross' squad racked up a 11-8 record and advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Tournament. He coached two All-WAC second-team performers in Kaletia Roberts and Christine McCartney.

The 2003-04 team achieved a 3.16 GPA for both semesters and was named a NSCAA/adidas Women's College Team Academic Award winner.

The following spring, April 2004, Cross' team faced the Mexican national team in an exhibition match in front of 5,400 fans at Dudley Field in El Paso.

In 2002, Cross led UTEP to a magical season. His Miners finished the year 16-3. For his coaching efforts Cross was named the WAC Coach of the Year and the Central Region Coach of the Year by the on-line organization, SoccerBuzz.com. UTEP snared runner-up honors in the WAC and ranked in the top 10 in the Central Region by SoccerBuzz.com throughout the year. Cross' unit led the NCAA in goals per match (4.42 gpm) and total goals (84), while its .842 winning percentage was eighth best in the country.

UTEP's 16-3 record was the fourth-best turnaround in NCAA soccer history. Cross mentored three of the top individual scorers in the NCAA and the top-three single-season point scorers in program history. Cohen was fourth in points per match (2.83) and sixth in goals per match (1.22). Kelly Parker led the NCAA with 1.00 assists per match and was tied for 13th in points per match (2.16). Miranda Cuthbertson was seventh in points (2.53 ppm) and eighth in goals (1.05 gpm).

Cross' team set program single-campaign records for goals (84), assists (73), points (241), fewest goals allowed (21) and lowest goals against average (1.09). The last two were broken by the 2006 squad.

All of this offense helped the Miners become one of the top teams in the Southwest in 2002. UTEP posted regional non-conference wins over Southwest Texas, Northern Arizona, Houston, New Mexico, Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin. Cross' squad played for an NCAA Tournament berth in 2002 in the WAC Tournament Championship game against SMU.

The Miners' success helped UTEP record it's then highest average of fans in 2002, including a then school-record 1,024 against Rice on Oct. 25. During an exhibition game against the Mexican national team in the Sun Bowl during the spring of 2003, 3,026 fans watched the Miners.

In addition to his own postseason honors, Cross coached five All-WAC selections, including first teamers Parker and Cohen. He had four players selected to the WAC All-Tournament team, with Cohen being named the MVP.

Seniors Cohen and Parker were selected All-Central Region by SoccerBuzz.com, while Roberts was All-Freshman Central Region by the publication.

The Miners were leaders in the classroom during the 2002-03 academic year. Cross had nine student-athletes named Academic All-WAC, in addition to Cohen's Academic All-America and Academic All-District selections.

The successful season led to several university awards as well. Parker received the UTEP Female Athlete of the Year Award, Cohen was chosen as the Golden Miner Award winner, and the team was given the Community Service Award for the 2002-03 school year.

His era as head coach began in 2001, as he tutored one of the top offensive players in the WAC in Cohen. She finished fifth in the league in goals (nine) and was sixth in points (20), on her way to earning second team All-WAC honors. Senior Laura Glasspoole capped off a successful career, receiving second team all-league honors as well.

Cross' players have had success on the pitch away from El Paso. He has coached two players who have been members of the U-21 Canadian National Team, one Senior Canadian National Team member and several players who saw action in the United Soccer League's W-League.

Cross, the second head coach in school history, was a critical part of the program as an assistant the previous four seasons before becoming the skipper. Cross helped UTEP to the WAC Mountain Division regular season title during the 1998 campaign by recruiting seven freshmen starters dubbed the "Magnificent Seven" by The El Paso Times.

As the Miners' top assistant, Cross was in charge of handling nearly every aspect of the program. He was an integral part of the recruiting process, both nationally and internationally. Cross played a strong role in the program's public relations and fund-raising efforts which sparked the addition of lights to University Field.

On the field, the Miners posted a 38-36-5 record during his time as an assistant. In just his second year on the staff, he helped turn the Miners from 4-12-2 to a 13-6-1 club which gained a share of the WAC Mountain Division regular season title. Cross aided the Miners to final Central Region top-10 rankings in both 1998 and 1999.

As an assistant, he helped mold five first team All-WAC picks, five second team All-WAC selections, one conference player of the year and a freshman All-American.

Academics have always been important to Cross. Since joining the Miner staff he has monitored the academic progress of the program with much success. Cross has assisted in producing 64 Academic All-WAC and C-USA selections, three Arthur Ashe, Jr. Scholar Athletes, six Academic All-Americans and three Golden Miner Award winners, presented to the university's top student-athlete. In spring 2003 his squad received the Athletics Director Award for Academics with the highest team GPA on campus. His unit earned that award in the spring of 2001, fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005. Additionally, Cross has been a kinesiology instructor at UTEP.

Cross has rejuvenated the youth soccer program in the El Paso community. Through coaching club teams and organizing the UTEP Miners' Soccer Academy, youth soccer in El Paso continues to grow. As the former director of coaching for the Outback Steakhouse Kangaroos F.C. Soccer Club, Cross guided the team to four consecutive city titles and 10 major tournament titles. In 1999, the Roos took third at the Texas State Tournament in San Antonio, Texas, under Cross. Seven players from that club were on the New Mexico Olympic Development State team. He has been a coach with the New Mexico Olympic Development Program in the area as well as south Texas.

Cross was a member of the board of directors for the 2000 first annual Sun Bowl Soccer Tournament.

In addition, he holds the National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Diploma, a United States Soccer Federation "B" license and was an instructor for the South Texas Youth Soccer Association "G" license.

Following his playing career, Cross worked as a member of the Texas A&M men's club staff. While at Texas A&M, he was head coach of the university's club team from 1996-97, leading the unit to the NERSA nationals. He completed his master's degree in business administration in 1997 from Texas A&M.

Additionally, Cross was an assistant girls' soccer coach at Bryan High School in 1997. He was a staff member for the Bobby Moffat Techniques Soccer Camp and Austin College Soccer Camp.

Cross starred as a center fullback for Austin College from 1992 to 1994, playing a critical role in the team's success. He helped the team to second-place NAIA District VIII finishes in three consecutive seasons. A three-year letterwinner for the Kangaroos, Cross was a two-time NAIA Academic All-American and received the Charles "Bo" Miller Award as the school's top student-athlete of the year in 1995. In 1995, he graduated summa cum laude with degrees in business and economics.

Cross began his collegiate career by helping Richland Junior College to an 11th-place finish in the NJCAA during the 1991 season.

A native of Richardson, Texas, Cross was a standout at Berkner High School.

Cross, 35, is married to Carrie Cross, the former girls' head soccer coach at Franklin High School in El Paso. Cross and his wife had their first son, Chase, on July 1, 2004. Their daughter, Chelsea, was born on April 19, 2006.