Monté Ross was formally introduced as the University of
Delaware men’s basketball program’s new head coach on
April 4, 2006 in a press conference held at the Bob
Carpenter Center.
Ross, who pronounces his first name “mon-tay”, is the 23rd
head coach in University of Delaware men’s basketball
history and begins his third season at the helm of the
Blue Hens in 2008-09. This is his first head coach
position after an outstanding career as a Division I
assistant coach for 13 seasons.
Taking over a program that had lost 20 games each of the
previous two seasons, Ross had his struggles in his first
season at the helm of the Blue Hens in 2006-07 as a young
and depleted squad posted a record of 5-26 and went 3-13
in Colonial Athletic Association play to finish in 12th
place.
But Ross guided an impressive turnaround in Year Two this
past winter and made a strong case for CAA Coach of the
Year honors. Still guiding a young squad, the Blue Hens
were the second most improved squad in the league, posting
a mark of 14-17 overall and placing seventh in the CAA
standings with a record of 9-9.
The Hens improved nine games from the previous season,
tripling their league win total and posting just as many
overall wins as the previous two years combined. Ross also
led his team to a first round CAA Tournament victory as
the Blue Hens knocked off long-time rival Drexel 60-51.
Leading the squad was third team All-CAA forwards Herb
Courtney and Marc Egerson, CAA All-Rookie pick Alphonso
Dawson, and one of the league's top point guards in Brian
Johnson. All but Courtney return to the fold for the
2008-09 season.
Delaware won its first five league games during the season
and among its CAA wins were a home win over league
champion and NCAA Tournament participant George Mason, a
home win over regular season runner-up UNC Wilmington, and
an early season road win over tournament runner-up William
& Mary.
Ross, 37, served as an assistant coach under Phil Martelli
at Saint Joseph’s University the previous 10 seasons
before taking over at Delaware, helping to lead the Hawks
to a record of 262-141, six NCAA Tournament appearances,
and three National Invitation Tournament appearances. The
2003-04 team went 30-2 and advanced to the NCAA Elite
Eight.
"This means a lot to me and my family," said Ross, who
spoke to a full room that included family members,
friends, Saint Joseph's University staff and supporters,
and media members when he was hired. "This is such a great
opportunity and I'm going to cherish it. I can promise
that I will work hard and make all of you proud. I've been
preparing for this opportunity for a very long time.
Things are going pretty fast now, but I am prepared to
handle it. Working with someone like Phil Martelli has
prepared me well for this. I want to make sure that our
players' experience here is memorable and that they get
what they signed on for. We want to create a love affair
with the community and the campus and have a positive
impact in everything we do. We will play hard every night
and bring a winning attitude and create a winning
culture."
"We are excited to have Monté join the University of
Delaware men's basketball program," said UD Director of
Athletics Edgar N. Johnson on his hiring. "During the
interview process, we learned that Monté's contacts and
success in recruiting young men from the Mid-Atlantic
Region are truly superior. He knows the region and its
players and coaches, our University, and the Colonial
Athletic Association. Most important of all, Monté is a
talented, personable, hard-working young man who has great
rapport with his players. We are confident that he will
bring the University of Delaware men's basketball program
to prominence in the CAA."
A 1992 sport management graduate of NCAA Division II
Winston-Salem State where he played for legendary head
coach and Basketball Hall of Fame member Clarence “Big
House” Gaines (828-447 record in 47 seasons from
1946-1993), Ross has been surrounded by championship
basketball throughout his coaching career.
During his 13 seasons as an NCAA Division I assistant,
Ross helped lead teams to nine winning seasons, seven
campaigns with 20 or more victories, and a winning
percentage of .650. His teams advanced to the NCAA
Tournament six times and to the NIT Tournament three times
while capturing five conference championships.
After beginning his career as an assistant at Lehigh in
1993-94, he spent two seasons as an assistant at
Delaware’s top rival Drexel, leading the Dragons to
consecutive North Atlantic Conference titles and NCAA
Tournament berths in 1995 and 1996 under head coach Bill
Herrion. The 1995-96 squad, led by current NBA veteran
Malik Rose, posted a record of 27-4 and upset Memphis in
the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Ross joined the Saint Joseph’s staff in 1996-97 during
Martelli’s second season as head coach. The Hawks rose to
national prominence under Martelli, participating in
post-season action seven times, including each of the
Ross' final six seasons on Hawk Hill. During Ross' tenure,
the Hawks won four Atlantic 10 regular season titles, one
conference tournament title, posted five seasons with 20
or more wins, and averaged 23 wins over his final six
seasons.
The Hawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times
during his tenure, including a memorable 2003-04 season
when Saint Joseph’s posted a 30-2 record and advanced to
the NCAA Elite Eight. The Hawks were a national story,
going through the regular season undefeated and earning a
No. 1 national ranking late in the season.
Ross also helped Saint Joseph’s advance to the NCAA Sweet
16 in 1997, to the NCAA second round in 2001, and to the
NCAA first round in 2003. In 2005-06 Saint Joseph’s went
19-14, advanced to the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship
game, and advanced to the second round of the National
Invitation Tournament. Saint Joseph’s also made a run to
the NIT title in 2004-05, going 24-12 and falling in the
championship game. The Hawks won the Atlantic 10 title and
advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 during Ross’ first season on
Hawk Hill in 1996-97.
Ross, who served as the Hawks’ recruiting coordinator and
worked with the team’s point guards, was instrumental in
bringing three current NBA players to Saint Joseph’s,
including two first round draft picks in 2004 consensus
National Player of the Year Jameer Nelson and Delonte
West.
Ross’ tenure at Saint Joseph’s was the third longest in
school history for an assistant coach and he was honored
in 2005 with the William J. Bennett Award, recognizing
dedication and loyalty to the Saint Joseph’s men’s
basketball program. He shared the award with fellow Saint
Joseph’s assistant Mark Bass.
In addition to his duties as an assistant at Saint
Joseph’s, Ross was active with the prestigious Sonny Hill
League, serving as a head coach in the summer college
league and as an assistant in the high school league.
In September, 2006, Ross and assistant coach Stephen
Stewart visited Dakar, Senegal to conduct youth basketball
clinics and a coaching seminar as part of a United States
Department of State-funded International Basketball
Initiative. They worked in conjunction with Basketball
Without Borders Africa, a community relations outreach
program of the NBA and also with the Senegalese Basketball
Federation and the nonprofit organization Sports for
Education and Economic Development in Senegal.
Ross and his wife, Michelle, reside in Media, PA with
their son Justin, 7, and daughter Lauren, 5.
Monté Ross Year by Year College Head Coaching Career
|
Year |
Record |
Conference Record (Finish) |
Highlights |
|
2006-07 |
5-26 |
3-15 (12th)
|
CAA 1st
Round |
|
2007-08 |
14-17 |
9-9 (7th)
|
CAA
Quarterfinals |
|
Totals |
19-43
(.306) |
12-24
(.333) |
- |
Ross
Year by Year College Assistant Coaching Career
|
Year |
School |
Head
Coach |
Record |
Team
Notes |
|
1993-94 |
Lehigh |
David
Duke |
10-17 |
- |
|
1994-95 |
Drexel |
Bill
Herrion |
22-8 |
NCAA
Tournament; North Atlantic Conf. Champion
|
|
1995-96 |
Drexel |
Bill
Herrion |
27-4 |
NCAA
Tournament 2nd Rd.; NAC Champion |
|
1996-97 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
26-7 |
NCAA
Tournament Sweet 16; Atlantic 10 Champion |
|
1997-98 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
11-17 |
5th,
Atlantic 10 East |
|
1998-99 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
12-18 |
5th,
Atlantic 10 East |
|
1999-00 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
13-16 |
4th,
Atlantic 10 East |
|
2000-01 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
26-7 |
NCAA
Tournament 2nd Rd.; Atlantic 10 Champion
|
|
2001-02 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
19-12 |
NIT
Tournament 2nd Rd.; 1st, Atlantic 10 East
|
|
2002-03 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
23-7
|
NCAA
Tournament; 1st, Atlantic 10 East |
|
2003-04 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
30-2
|
NCAA
Tournament Elite Eight; 1st, Atlantic 10 East
|
|
2004-05 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
24-12 |
NIT
Tournament Runner-Up; Atlantic 10 Reg. Season
Champion |
|
2005-06 |
Saint
Joseph's |
Phil
Martelli |
19-14 |
NIT
Tournament 2nd Rd.; 5th, Atlantic 10 |
|
