Rest easy Hawk fans — Red Oak has its new football coach. And he comes with quite the resume.
The Red Oak ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the hire of Chris Ross as the new Red Oak head football coach and campus athletic coordinator at the Monday night board meeting. Ross’ resume boasts 21 years as a coach and athletic director at Texas high schools and, most recently, a two-year stint as the director of program development for Division-I Boise State.
With the Broncos, Ross worked with the coaching staff to improve recruiting and player development.
Red Oak ISD Athletic Director Chris Anderson stated Ross’ ability to lead and motivate student-athletes, as well as his work ethic and knowledge of the game, made the hire the right move.
“We are very excited to bring Chris Ross to ROISD,” Anderson said. “Coach Ross brings a wealth of knowledge to our school district with his years of experience as a head football coach with numerous successful seasons, district championships, and playoff teams. He has done an outstanding job at his previous schools as a campus leader working to create a culture of hard work, discipline, and accountability among the student-athletes and coaches under his care.”
Before jumping into the collegiate ranks, Ross served as the head football coach and athletic director at Prosper High School. He also spent four years at Leander High School (2012-15) seven years at Cedar Park High School (2005-12) and four at Wichita Falls (2001-05).
While serving as the athletic director in Leander, Ross oversaw five high schools and eight middle schools, which encompasses roughly 250 coaches. His schools twice won the 5A UIL Lone Star Cup, an award that awards points to high schools based on how their students, teams, and programs finish in UIL events and competitions.
Red Oak ISD Superintendent Dr. Mike Goddard said Ross is not only a high-quality addition to the football program or school district but the Red Oak community as a whole.
“Red Oak ISD is thrilled to welcome Chris Ross to our team,” Goddard said. “Coach Ross is highly respected across the state of Texas and nationally. To have someone who has seen success through state championships and being a conference champion at a top-25 NCAA Division I program is incredible. Coach Ross brings a ‘winners mindset’ to Red Oak in every sense of the word — on and off the field.”
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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith
(469) 517-1470