Monté Ross to lead UD men's basketball

5:24 p.m., March 31, 2006--Monté Ross, who has served as an assistant coach at St. Joseph's University for the last 10 seasons, has been selected as head coach of the Blue Hen men's basketball program, UD Director of Athletics Edgar Johnson announced March 31.

Ross, 33, will formally be introduced as Delaware's 23rd men's basketball head coach in a press conference at the Bob Carpenter Center auditorium at 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 4. Johnson, UD President Dr. David P. Roselle, and members of the Blue Hen men's basketball squad will be on hand for the introduction. The press conference will be broadcast live on the UD web site. Details will be available on Monday.

"We are excited to have Monté join the University of Delaware men's basketball program," Johnson said. "During the interview process, we learned that Monté's contacts and success in recruiting young men from the Mid-Atlantic Region are truly superior. He knows the region and its players and coaches, our University and the Colonial Athletic Association. Most important of all, Monté is a talented, personable, hard-working young man who has great rapport with his players. We are confident that he will bring the University of Delaware men's basketball program to prominence in the CAA."

Ross will replace David Henderson, who was not retained after the 2005-06 season, after leading the Blue Hens to a 9-21 record and a ninth-place finish in the CAA standings (4-14). Henderson led the Blue Hens to a six-year mark of 85-93, including three straight losing seasons.

A 1992 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, where he played for legendary head coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines, Ross has been surrounded by championship basketball throughout his coaching career. After beginning his career at Lehigh in 1993-94, he spent two seasons as an assistant at Delaware's top rival Drexel, leading the Dragons to consecutive North Atlantic Conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths in 1995 and 1996 under head coach Bill Herrion.

He joined the St. Joseph's staff in 1996-97 during Phil Martelli's second season as head coach. The Hawks have risen to national prominence under Martelli, participating in postseason action eight times, including each of the last six seasons. During his tenure, the Hawks have won five Atlantic 10 regular season titles, one conference tournament title, posted five seasons with 20 or more wins, and in the past six years have compiled a 141-54 record, averaging 23 wins per season.

The Hawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times during his tenure, including a memorable 2003-04 season when St. Joseph's posted a 30-2 record and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. Ross also helped SJU advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1997, to the NCAA second round in 2001, and to the NCAA first round in 2003. This past season, St. Joseph's went 19-14, advanced to the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game, and competed in the National Invitation Tournament.

Ross, who served as the Hawks' recruiting coordinator and worked with the team's point guards, was instrumental in bringing three current NBA players to St, Joseph's, including two first round draft picks in 2004 consensus National Player of the Year Jameer Nelson. Nelson currently plays for the Orlando Magic while Delonte West and Dwayne Jones are members of the Boston Celtics.

Ross, a Philadelphia native who was an all-city selection and city Academic Player of the Year in 1988, and his wife Michelle, live in Media, Pa., with their children, Justin Monté, 6, and Lauren Noelle. 5. Michelle attended the University of Delaware for two years before earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from St. Joseph's.

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