Ross was the head coach at Oak Park from 1984-2011 and began his career in North Kansas City Schools in 1979. He attended William Jewell College and finished his undergraduate work in three years. He would later earn a master’s degree in administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In the fall of 1979, he was a student teacher and an assistant football coach at Winnetonka High School, and later that semester was offered a teaching contract with a spot on the coaching staff.
Ross later was head baseball coach at Winnetonka from 1982 through the spring of 1985, during which time Winnetonka won its conference and two district titles before clinching state in 1985.
By the fall of 1985, Ross became the head coach at Oak Park High He finished with a record of 184 wins and 107 losses, three conference titles, 12 district titles, and second at state —losing to Hazelwood Central 21-20 in the 1996 5A title game.
In his 32½ years with the district, he coached all 32, while serving 31 as head coach. In addition to teaching, and coaching baseball and football at Winnetonka, he coached basketball there for six years. At Oak Park he also coached basketball for a couple years in addition to football and baseball. During his tenure at Oak Park, he was the athletic director for 15 years and assistant principal for 12.
In recognition of his outstanding career accomplishments, Ross was named to the Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2007.
