Chris Ross Joins Lumberjacks as Offensive Coordinator
1/24/2024 10:27:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- Chris Ross was named the Lumberjacks offensive coordinator on January 12, 2024. The 2024 season will mark his 30th season on the sidelines. Ross spent the last four years as head football coach at Lucas Lovejoy (Texas) High School in Lucas, Texas.
"I've known Chris for pretty much my whole career, over two decades," SFA head coach Colby Carthel said. "I've always been impressed with him. He's a fine man and a terrific coach, a blessing for the kids he coaches, and the people he's around. To be honest, he's a guy that for about 15-20 years I've told people if I ever got the chance to hire Chris Ross and add to a staff, I'd hire him right away. He's that kind of guy."
Ross joined the Leopards program in 2020 and led the Leopards to a 45-9 overall record in his four years as head coach. Lovejoy is coming off a 12-2 campaign in 2023 that included a 7-0 run through District 7-5A Division I and a trip to the Region II-5A finals in the Class 5A Division playoffs. At the helm, Ross helped guide the Leopards to two regional finals appearances over the past three years, as well as three district championships. In his first season at Lovejoy in 2020 he took the Leopards to a school record 13-1 season.
"It is an honor to be joining the SFA family and the community of Nacogdoches," said Ross. "I am excited about the opportunity to be coaching with Coach Carthel. His reputation as a leader and as a man, made this an offer I couldn't pass up. The history of this program, and the chance to be the OC of such a talented group made it a perfect fit for me and my family."
Ross holds a 190-82 record as a head coach. He was head coach at Wichita Falls, (2001-2004) Cedar Park (2005-12), Prosper (2015-16), and Red Oak (2018-19) before joining Lovejoy in 2020. In his career as a high school coach, he led programs to 14 playoff appearances.
He served as athletic director for the Leander Independent School District from 2012-15, which encompassed five high schools and eight middle schools, and included roughly 250 coaches. His schools claimed the 5A Lone Star Cup Championship in two of his three seasons as athletic director, an award that recognizes the most outstanding extracurricular program in the state.
The Quanah native has previous college experience spending three seasons as director of football program development (2016-20) under head coach Brian Harsin at Boise State. He helped lead the Broncos to a Mountain West Conference title and two bowl game appearances.
"I've known Chris for pretty much my whole career, over two decades," SFA head coach Colby Carthel said. "I've always been impressed with him. He's a fine man and a terrific coach, a blessing for the kids he coaches, and the people he's around. To be honest, he's a guy that for about 15-20 years I've told people if I ever got the chance to hire Chris Ross and add to a staff, I'd hire him right away. He's that kind of guy."
Ross joined the Leopards program in 2020 and led the Leopards to a 45-9 overall record in his four years as head coach. Lovejoy is coming off a 12-2 campaign in 2023 that included a 7-0 run through District 7-5A Division I and a trip to the Region II-5A finals in the Class 5A Division playoffs. At the helm, Ross helped guide the Leopards to two regional finals appearances over the past three years, as well as three district championships. In his first season at Lovejoy in 2020 he took the Leopards to a school record 13-1 season.
"It is an honor to be joining the SFA family and the community of Nacogdoches," said Ross. "I am excited about the opportunity to be coaching with Coach Carthel. His reputation as a leader and as a man, made this an offer I couldn't pass up. The history of this program, and the chance to be the OC of such a talented group made it a perfect fit for me and my family."
Ross holds a 190-82 record as a head coach. He was head coach at Wichita Falls, (2001-2004) Cedar Park (2005-12), Prosper (2015-16), and Red Oak (2018-19) before joining Lovejoy in 2020. In his career as a high school coach, he led programs to 14 playoff appearances.
He served as athletic director for the Leander Independent School District from 2012-15, which encompassed five high schools and eight middle schools, and included roughly 250 coaches. His schools claimed the 5A Lone Star Cup Championship in two of his three seasons as athletic director, an award that recognizes the most outstanding extracurricular program in the state.
The Quanah native has previous college experience spending three seasons as director of football program development (2016-20) under head coach Brian Harsin at Boise State. He helped lead the Broncos to a Mountain West Conference title and two bowl game appearances.
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