Chris Kreider returned to Georgia Tech as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball program in April 2026.
Entering his 20th season as a collegiate coach, Kreider spent the last two seasons at Rice (2024-26) as an associate head coach for Rob Lanier in his second stint on South Main. Kreider also had stops as an assistant coach at SMU (2022-24), Georgia State (2019-22), Rice (2017-19), Virginia Military Institute (2015-17), George Mason (2011-15), Georgia Southern (2009-11) and USC Aiken (2006-07).
Throughout his coaching career, Kreider has helped recruit multiple mid-major top-25 recruiting classes, served as recruiting coordinator at six programs and placed an emphasis on player development, helping several to professional careers including Max Fiedler (BC Oostende, previously in G League), Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans), Quincy Olivari (Motor City Cruise – G League) and Drew Peterson (Motor City Cruise – G League).
“My family and I are incredibly excited to return home to Atlanta and back to Georgia Tech with Coach Cross,” Kreider said. “I believe in his vision and look forward to getting to work with the outstanding staff he has assembled. This is truly a dream come true and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.”
Kreider most recently spent two seasons at Rice for his second stay with the Owls in an elevated role of associate head coach. He transitioned back to Rice after two seasons at SMU (2022-24) where he was an assistant coach, helping revitalize the Mustangs’ program. During the 2023-24 season, SMU finished with a 20-13 overall record, including an 11-7 American Athletic Conference mark, doubling the Mustangs’ win total from just the season prior. The Mustangs capped the 2024 season with a berth to the NIT after leading the AAC in field goal percentage defense (.413), assists (15.7), rebounding margin (+5.1), offensive rebounds (14.5) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4). His first season at SMU saw the Mustangs post a runner-up finish at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic before the staff brought in the No. 2-ranked transfer class in The American.
During three seasons at Georgia State (2019-22), the Panthers went 53-30 with three-straight winning seasons and two Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game appearances, capturing the 2022 title and finishing runner-up in 2021. The Panthers returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 for their sixth program appearance in the Big Dance. His first season in Atlanta saw Georgia State collect 19 wins, highlighted by the program’s first-ever victory over an ACC opponent and winning the 2K Empire Classic Riverside Regional.
Kreider had his first stint at Rice from 2017-19 as an assistant coach where he helped recruit a pair of top-five recruiting classes (fourth (2018), third (2019)) in Conference USA according to 247Sports. The Owls saw success both on and off the court during Kreider’s tenure, as guard Chris Mullins was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, while 16 student-athletes placed their names on the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, highlighted by Connor Cashaw’s All-Academic Team recognition in 2017-18.
At Virginia Military Institute (2015-17), Kreider served as the recruiting coordinator and post coach after four seasons at George Mason (2011-15). During his time in Fairfax, he helped the Patriots to a pair of 20-win seasons and a run to the College Basketball Invitational championship series in 2012-13. George Mason also inked a pair of highly-ranked recruiting classes under Kreider as the 2011 incoming class was tabbed the No. 10 mid-major class by ESPN.com and the 2014 class was touted as one of the A-10’s top recruiting classes.
Prior to George Mason, Kreider spent two seasons at Georgia Southern as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Kreider served his first stint in Atlanta from 2007-09 at Georgia Tech, holding administrative assistant and volunteer assistant coaching positions on The Flats.
From 2006-07, Kreider was at USC Aiken as an assistant coach after working three years at St. Francis High School (Alpharetta, Ga.) where he held coaching positions for the men’s and women’s basketball teams (2003-04 assistant; 2004-05 women’s coach; 2005-06 men’s coach). He got his start in coaching as an assistant coach at the University of Great Falls in 2002-03.
A native of Hummelstown, Pa., Kreider started as a small forward at three colleges, playing one year at Mansfield University before transferring to Grove City College (Pa.). He led the Wolverines in his junior season in scoring (12.3 ppg) and steals (52). Kreider finished his playing and academic career at Lebanon Valley College, earning a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish in 2003.
