Renton head coach wins Coach of the Week from Seahawks

Cross has gotten Renton to a 3-1 record and second in KingCo 2A.

Seahawks named Renton High School head football coach Mark Cross a Coach of the Week. (Photo from Seahawks.com)

Seahawks named Renton High School head football coach Mark Cross a Coach of the Week. (Photo from Seahawks.com)

The Seattle Seahawks named Renton High School head football coach Mark Cross as their Class B/2B and A/2A High School Head Coach of the Week for Week 4.

Cross got an email from former Seahawks receiver Paul Johns.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” Cross said. “It’s a testament not only to myself because one man can’t run a football team. But a testament to our very strong assistants and the kids.”

He gave props to the players’ work ethic and drive this season as well as school and district administration.

“It takes a village,” Cross said.

Interestingly, he doesn’t know how he was picked for the nomination.

“That was the first thing that popped in my head. How did I get selected? I have no idea,” he said.

He is the first coach of a high school in the city of Renton to win the award, which began back in 2021. The Seahawks started this program, nominating two coaches for each week of the season. Along with receiving a $500 donation to Renton’s football program, Cross will be honored on the field pregame at a home Seahawks game this season with the other participants.

“It’s very cool. As hard as we work on fundraising and getting funds through the boosters, it’s always a struggle. Football is one of the most expensive programs. We do team dinners, and on top of that, we have incorporated pregame meals … It’s a long time from lunch to the end of the day. So we tried to provide a game day meal to keep them full. All in all I’m excited for the money to come through,” said Cross.

While attending the game with the coaches, 20 coaches will come to a Seahawks home game, where they will be recognized with a pregame brunch. One coach will be named Coach of the Year, and they will receive an additional $2,000 toward their football program, according to Seahawks.com.

Cross has grown up a Seahawks fan and has continued to be one. He is impressed with Coach Pete Carroll’s philosophy on coaching.

“I borrowed some structural stuff from him and other coaching in the area and applied that to our team,” Cross said.

All of the coaches including Carroll and his assistants have influenced his coaching style and got him to where he is now.

“(Thank you to) all of the coaches that I was groomed under. I’m constantly talking to them and wanted to thank all the other coaches, whether it’s clinics or coaches in the area for sharing their ideas with me,” Cross said.

If he were to meet Pete Carroll, he wouldn’t ask him a question about X’s and O’s, but a different aspect of football would be his inquisition: “My thing would be that motivational piece. How do you motivate your players at such a high level… As I have gotten older and in the meat of my coaching career, I want to know what makes athletes tick,” Cross said.

Cross and the other nominees will be honored at a December Seahawks game.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Ben Ray / The Reporter
Quarterback Jayden Saelee warming up.
NPSL All-League Football Teams announced

Kentwood’s Jabez Tuaoa named Defensive Player of the Year.

Courtesy Photo
Kentlake Male Athlete of the Week: Makoa Planesi

Planesi is off to a great first week of practice and was student of the quarter at Kentlake

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Ella Wick

Wick is a leader on and off the court and epitimizes what it means to be a Falcon

t
Kent’s Christmas Rush Fun Run and Walk coming up Dec. 9

41st year of event; course starts at Hogan Park on Russell Road

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Sage Vincioni

Vincioni placed fifth overall in the league tournament in his first competitive season.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Claire Eaton

Eaton is an all-around great student athlete, works hard in the pool and has a 4.0 GPA

Senior midfielder Jayda Sparks (left) signed to Eastern Washington University and forward/defender Ella Schug (right) committed to Cal State University at Bakersfield. (Photo provided by John Flanigan)
Two Kentridge soccer players commit to Division 1 schools

Schug and Sparks have been momumental in the girls soccer playoff run.

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
Fall state playoff action | Around the Sound Sports podcast

In this week’s episode, we take a look at district soccer and football around the NPSL. Kentridge girls soccer advances to the state playoffs for the first time since 2018 in a huge 6-0 win over Rogers. Decatur football’s historic season comes to a close in a 13-6 loss to Woodinville at home. Auburn falls to Lincoln at the Lincoln Bowl, ending the Trojans’ 2023 campaign. Auburn Riverside football wins against Juanita 28-9 and is going to state for the first time in school history.

Hayden Rallo controls the ball at Kentlake practice. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake girls soccer team breaks 13-year state playoff drought

The Falcons are on their way to state for first time since 2010 on the back of a 4-0 win

Team photo after the win against Rogers. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer is back in the state tournament

The Chargers are in the big dance for the first time since 2018, snapping a four-year drought.

t
Marleau gets hero’s welcome in Kent as No. 12 raised to rafters | Photos

Seattle Thunderbirds retire number at ShoWare Center

Federal Way’s Sione Kongaika stiff-arms a defender. (Ben Ray/Sound Publishing)
Prep football playoffs: Week 10 matchups in South King County

Dates, analysis and the last time the two teams faced each other.