Missouri hires DeMontie Cross as defensive coordinator

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) New Missouri coach Barry Odom has hired DeMontie Cross, a former teammate at the school, as his defensive coordinator. The move comes a day

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) New Missouri coach Barry Odom has hired DeMontie Cross, a former teammate at the school, as his defensive coordinator.

The move comes a day after Josh Heupel was hired as offensive coordinator.

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Cross has been linebackers coach at TCU the last three seasons and last year also served as co-defensive coordinator. The 11th-ranked Horned Frogs are 10-2 and will play No. 15 Oregon Jan. 2 in the Alamo Bowl, and Cross will join Missouri after that game.

Cross, who is from St. Louis, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant/outside linebackers coach at Missouri for Larry Smith in 1998-99. He was an NFL defensive assistant coach for five years from 2006-10 with the Buffalo Bills.

Odom and Cross were teammates in 1996 at Missouri.