Mary & Al Schwarz Hall of Fame
John Ross is credited with starting the WSU men’s basketball team in 1969, and served as the team’s first head coach.
Starting the program from scratch with a junior varsity team in 1969-70, WSU started a full varsity status team in 1970-71 and posted a 65-54 record during Ross’ five-year stint as head coach. Ross stepped down from coaching after the 1974-75 season and assumed assistant athletics director duties under Director of Athletics Don Mohr until his retirement in 1980. He then served as an assistant with head coach Ralph Underhill in the mid-1980s.
Ross also started the baseball program at WSU in 1971 and served as head coach that year.
Prior to coming to Wright State, Ross led Belmont High School to the 1964 Ohio State Basketball Championship and had four of his players advance to play major college basketball. He was also named the Ohio High School Coach of the Year in 1964. His championship Belmont team is in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
