Now in his third year in Annapolis, Brad Ross joined Joe Amplo’s staff in the summer of 2019 and serves as the Mids’ offensive coordinator.
In his first season at Navy, Ross tutored an inexperienced offense that featured just two returning starters among the attack and midfield. The Mids finished No. 40 in the nation and No. 4 in the Patriot League in scoring offense, averaging 11.80 goals per game. It marked the first time since 2007 (11.00) that a Navy team would close out the year averaging double digits, while it was its best scoring average since its Cinderella run in 2004 that saw the Mids average 12.28 goals per game. The Mids’ 20.00 points per game stood 28th nationally and marked the best average since 1978 when Navy averaged 23.07 points per game. Navy’s 8.20 assists per game stood 20th nationally and was the best average since 1978 when it averaged 8.77 per contest.
Navy’s extra-man unit was a well-oiled machine, scoring 10 goals on 15 attempts (66.7) on the year. In its final two games of the season, Navy was 7 for 7 (4-4 vs. Lehigh, 3 for 3 vs. Colgate). It’s the first time Navy has scored double-digit extra-man goals since 2016 (12 for 33) and it’s the first time since 2011 that it has finished ranked inside the top 20. Navy has never finished among the top five in the category until 2020. Junior attackman Tyler Perreten played a role in 6 of Navy’s 10 man-up opportunities, scoring 3 extra-man goals while dealing out assists on 3 goals.
Once again, the Mids’ extra-man offense was among the best in the country in 2021. Navy was ranked 10th, scoring on 13 of its 30 opportunities for a 43.3 conversion rate. Anchoring that effort was attackman Jack Sweeney, who paced the team with 6 man-up goals which tied as the 11th-most in Div. I and the second most in the Patriot League. The 6 extra-man goals were the most by a Navy player since Harrison Chaires turned in 7 in 2011.
As a team, the Mids shot 30.4 percent, targeting 97 goals on 319 shots. It’s the first time Navy has finished inside of the top 20 in shooting percentage since 2012 when the Mids finished 13th with their 31.1 shooting efficiency (109G, 351 Sh). Though their goal production was roughly one goal less than in the shortened 2020 campaign, the Mids finished the 2021 season 35th in scoring offense - their best finish since 2016 (33rd, 9.88GPG).
Meanwhile, Christian Daniel capped off his career by becoming just the 36th player in school history to reach the 100-point milestone. He led the Mids in scoring in 2021 with 31 points on 16 goals and 15 assists and graduated 20th on Navy’s all-time scoring leader board with 122 points.
Ross arrived in Annapolis after having spent the previous five seasons at Ohio State as the team’s offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, while being promoted to associate head coach in August 2016.
In 2017, Ross was named the IMLCA’s Assistant Coach of the Year and played a key role in the Buckeyes advancing to the program’s first Final Four and NCAA National Championship game. Ohio State averaged 11.33 goals per game, including a season-high 18 in a win at Michigan Stadium against the Wolverines. On 11 occasions, the Buckeyes scored 12 or more goals and had an offense that generated nearly 34 shots per game and converted 49.2 percent of its man-up chances.
With Ross leading the offense in 2018, the Buckeyes finished the regular season ranked 29th nationally in scoring offense and 21st in shooting percentage. The Buckeyes scored 10 or more goals in nine of 12 games and three players had 30 or more points on the season.
In 2019, the Buckeyes averaged 11.75 goals per game and stood 29th nationally, while their 30.5 shooting percentage was 19th best in the country. Anchoring the offense was Tre Leclaire who was ninth nationally in goals per game (3.09), while Jack Myers was 29th in assists per game (1.82).
In 2015, Ross’ first year at Ohio State, the Buckeyes reached the NCAA Quarterfinals after a win over two-time defending NCAA Champion Duke in the opening round, with Ohio State scoring a season-high 16 goals in the road victory. The Buckeyes averaged 10.0 goals a game on the year and scored nine or more goals in eight of the last nine games. Senior Jesse King had 77 points, the most for a Buckeye since 1979, en route to earning Third-Team All-America honors, while King and Carter Brown were both named First-Team All-Big Ten. The Buckeyes scored 9.4 goals a game in 2016, tallying double digits in six games, including three of the last four.
A three-time All-American and two-time team captain at Duke, Ross spent four years as the associate head coach at Bryant (2011-14) after beginning his coaching career at Brown University in 2009.
Ross was part of the Bryant staff that led the Bulldogs to three consecutive Northeast Conference Tournament titles and back-to-back NCAA appearances. The squad was 16-5 in 2014 and reached the NCAA Quarterfinals with wins over Siena in the play-in game and Syracuse in the first round.
Ross was a two-time captain (2008, ’09) and three-year starter at midfield for the Blue Devils. During his five-year career with Duke, he was a part of three ACC titles (2007, ’08, ’09) and the squad reached the NCAA Semifinals four times, including a berth in the National Championship game twice. Ross, who was part of an NCAA-record 73 wins during his career, produced 102 points for the Blue Devils (76g, 26a). He earned USILA Third-Team All-America accolades in both 2008 and ’09 and was an honorable mention selection in 2007.
Ross played professionally for four years before retiring because of medical issues prior to the 2013 season. He was a member of two Major League Lacrosse championship teams, winning the title with Toronto in 2009 in his first year as a pro and with Boston in 2011. Ross, who saw action in 40 regular-season MLL games in his career, scoring 46 goals and 70 points, was selected for the 2011 MLL All-Star Game. He was a second-round choice of Toronto in the 2009 MLL Draft.
A two-time USILA Scholar All-American, Senior CLASS Award first-team honoree and ACC All-Academic Team selection, Ross graduated from Duke with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2008. Using his final year of eligibility to work toward a graduate degree, he earned a master’s degree in humanities with a concentration in ethics from his alma mater in 2009.
Ross and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Bodie and Dempsey, and a son, Cade.
