When former Prosper Head Coach Chris Ross accepted a position at Boise State, he knew saying goodbye to coaching under the Friday night lights would be tough.
“I’ve been calling plays since the 90’s and adapting to my new role will be interesting,” Ross stated. “The relationships you build with players and coaches is one of the best parts of being a coach.”
Ross grew up in the small north Texas community of Quanah, where like every other town in Texas, football is king. His passion for the game was evident as early as middle school where Ross spent hours filling notebooks with football plays. In high school, Ross watched film with the coaches, immersing himself in every aspect of the game.
“Coach Wood and Coach Boyd taught me an incredible work ethic,” Ross said of his high school coaches. “They helped me understand to do anything big in life, you are not going to do it all by yourself. I learned that from them as well as the guys I played with.”
His senior year, Ross and the ’88 Quanah Indians made their way to the state championship, falling to eventual state champion Corrigan Camden.
“There’s not another state where high school football is as big as it is in Texas,” Ross said reflecting on his time as a player and coach.
After graduating from Texas Tech, Ross began his career as a coach as the defensive coordinator at Olney High School. From there, he went to Wichita Falls High School where he was an offensive coordinator and head coach. Ross left WFHS and spent seven seasons as the head coach at Cedar Park, where he compiled a 57-25 record. He took time off from the sidelines to serve as the Athletic Director at Leander ISD for three years and spent 2015 at the helm of the Prosper Eagles, who went 7-4.
Coaching at the next level is a dream come true for Ross. “I’ve had a couple of opportunities over the years, but it always seemed to be the wrong place and the wrong time,” he said. “When I was presented with this job at Boise State, I thought it was a good fit for me and my family.”
The atmosphere is reminiscent of Friday nights in Texas, perhaps one reason it was a perfect fit for the small town Texas boy now realizing those childhood dreams.
“Boise State is a national brand and is an incredible place,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable college town and the entire state supports this program.”
Ross will be the director of football program development and will be involved in teaching, coaching and recruiting.
When asked if he would spend time recruiting high school players out of Texas, Ross firmly said, “Without a doubt.”
