Bio

The 2024 season is the third for assistant coach Joe Ross as a member of the TU coaching staff.

Ross brings an abundance of coaching experience with him to the Taylor volleyball team, most recently as an assistant coach for the Wittenberg University men’s volleyball program, for whom he continues to coach. With the Wittenberg men’s team, Ross works as the offensive coordinator for match play, while focusing on the development of fundamentals at practice.

Prior to joining the men’s team, Ross served on staff with the Wittenberg women’s volleyball program for two years. There, Ross helped lead Wittenberg to a national ranking as high as No. 3 in the AVCA Coaches’ Poll while focusing his time on the development of opponent scouting reports and recruitment. In 2018, Ross coached Wittenberg to an NCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, and an appearance in the Regional Finals. Throughout his time with the Wittenberg women’s volleyball program, four players earned AVCA Division III All-American honors.

From March 2019 through March 2022, Ross also served as the head girls’ volleyball coach at Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio, where he posted an overall record of 61-8. 2020 was an especially significant season for Ross, as he led his team to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the State Final Four, which earned him recognitions as the 2020 NFHS Ohio Coach of the Year, the OHSVCA Division 2 Coach of the Year, and the Ohio Central District Coach of the Year. Furthermore, for three-consecutive seasons at Jonathan Alder, Ross coached the conference player of the year.

Before his time at Jonathan Alder, Ross coached within both the girls’ and boys’ volleyball programs at Hilliard Darby High School. Ross served as the head girls’ coach for three seasons, amassing an overall record of 62-35 while being named the 2016 Ohio Capital Conference Coach of the Year. For over a decade, Ross also served as an assistant varsity coach with the Hilliard Darby boys’ volleyball team. While coaching the boys’ program, Ross helped lead Hilliard Darby to 11 Ohio Capital Conference championships, 10 regional championships, five final-four appearances, and one state runner-up.

Aside from coaching, Ross has worked as a middle school English teacher since 2005, after earning both a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Secondary Education from Ohio State.

Ross lives and commutes from Plain City, Ohio, where he teaches English at Heritage Middle School.