Troy University Athletics
Cross Named Sun Belt Coach of the Year; Two Trojans Earn All-Conference Honors
3/2/2026 2:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Following Troy clinching the outright Sun Belt regular-season title on Friday night, the Trojans received multiple honors as the Sun Belt unveiled its postseason awards Monday afternoon.
Scott Cross was named the Joe Gottfried Sun Belt Coach of the Year, while Thomas Dowd earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt First Team. Victor Valdes was also recognized with All-Sun Belt Third Team honors.
Cross guided Troy to a 20-11 overall record in his seventh season at the helm, capturing the league's regular-season crown with a 12-6 conference mark despite being picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.
Cross has led the Trojans to five straight seasons of 20-plus wins and 10-plus Sun Belt victories, making Troy the only program in the conference to reach those win totals over that span.
Troy delivered a signature non-conference victory on Nov. 18, defeating San Diego State on the road in double overtime, 108-107. The win marked the highest-ranked victory in program history, with the Aztecs entering the game ranked No. 29 on KenPom. It was also the only NET Quad 1 win by a Sun Belt team this season.
Under Cross, the Trojans recorded eight wins by 15 or more points while going 4-1 in games decided by three points or fewer. The team finished first in the Sun Belt in scoring margin at +6.9 points per game.
The award is Cross's second Sun Belt Coach of the Year honor and first as head coach of the Trojans.
Cross becomes the second Troy coach to earn Sun Belt Coach of the Year recognition, joining Don Maestri (2008-09).
Thomas Dowd's selection to the All-Sun Belt First Team marks the junior's first conference postseason honor. Dowd averaged 14.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, and was the only player in the Sun Belt to average a double-double.
His 16 double-doubles rank eighth nationally, while his 10.1 rebounds per game rank 13th in the country.
Dowd is one of just six players in Division I this season to record at least 400 points and 300 rebounds. On Feb. 18, he grabbed his 278th rebound of the season, setting Troy's Division I single-season record.
The Dothan, Ala., native scored in double figures in 27 games this season, including a 25-point performance against San Diego State. He added a career-high 19 rebounds in that contest, the most by a Sun Belt player in a game this season.
A starter in 30 games, Dowd has excelled on both ends of the floor. He has knocked down 63 3-pointers while shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc and 44.4% from the field overall. In addition to his rebounding, Dowd averaged 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
Victor Valdes also earned his first Sun Belt postseason honor with his selection to the All-Sun Belt Third Team. The Trojans' leading scorer, Valdes averaged 15.0 points per game and led the team with 4.5 assists per contest.
Valdes recorded nine 20-point games, including a career-high 29 against West Georgia on Dec. 1.
In a key win over Arkansas State on Jan. 17, Valdes dished out 14 assists, the most by a Sun Belt player in a game since Nov. 11, 2022.
The Monterrey, Mexico, native finished the regular season fourth in the conference in both free throws made (156) and free throws attempted (196).
His production at the free-throw line helped Troy secure multiple wins this season, including a 10-for-11 performance at UAB on Dec. 14 and a 14-for-18 showing at Old Dominion on Jan. 21.
Troy begins postseason play on Sunday, March 8, after earning the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Championships in Pensacola, Fla. The Trojans will face a to-be-determined opponent at 5 p.m.
2025-26 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Chaze Harris, South Alabama
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Wilson, App State
Newcomer of the Year: Joshua Beadle, Coastal Carolina
Freshman of the Year: D.J. Hall, Texas State
Sixth Man of the Year: Joey Chammaa, Arkansas State
Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year: Scott Cross, Troy
All-Sun Belt First Team
Joshua Beadle, Coastal Carolina
Thomas Dowd, Troy
Wyatt Fricks, Marshall
Chaze Harris, South Alabama
Tylik Weeks, Southern Miss
All-Sun Belt Second Team
D.J. Hall, Texas State
Jelani Hamilton, Georgia State
Kasen Jennings, App State
Adam Olsen, South Alabama
Jalen Speer, Marshall
All-Sun Belt Third Team
Cliff Davis, James Madison
Alonzo Dodd, App State
Christian Harmon, Arkansas State
Justin McBride, James Madison
Victor Valdes, Troy
