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MEET DIRECTOR - BILL ROSS

Bill Ross took over as head coach of the men's cross country program in 1998 with one main goal: maintain the tradition of success. In his first three years, Ross has helped the Gators continue the Allegheny tradition.

Under his guidance, the men's cross country team has a pair of top-three finishes at the NCAC Championships and three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Mideast Regional. Last season Ross' squad finished second at both the NCAC and NCAA Regional meets, the best regional finish in school history.

He has also served as Allegheny's women's cross country coach since 1996 and also is the men's and women's track & field coach. The women's cross country team was second at the NCAC Championship and fourth at the NCAA Regional in 2000.

Under Ross' tutelage, four individuals qualified five times for the NCAA Championship. Last year Dan Princic made his second appearance, while Amy Schuckert qualified in 1997 and '98 as did Brice Allen in '99. Ross has also coached six All-Americans and 16 national qualifiers in track since coming to Allegheny.

Whatever the sport, Ross' aspirations are constant. "My number one goal is that our programs provide a life-changing experience for our student-athletes," he said. "That is accomplished through teaching dedication to team, academics and self-achievement."

Since joining Allegheny, Ross has the led men's track & field team to the 1997 NCAC Outdoor Championship and the women to three straight championships from 1999-2001. In 2000, Ross was named the NCAA Mideast Region Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year and has been the NCAC Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year each of the last three years. In 1998, he was named NCAC Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year.

A 1984 graduate of Slippery Rock University, Ross was a three-year letterwinner in both track and field and football at The Rock, and qualified for three NCAA Div. II track and field championships. Ross earned a master's degree in science of exercise and sport from Slippery Rock in 1989. He is a native of Mount Jewett, Pa. Ross and his wife Wendy have five children: Tim (17), Zac (13), Tyler (11), Nat (3), and Noah (6 mos.).