Football

Tom Ross is one of the original members of the Southwestern football coaching staff, joining the program in March 2012 after serving under head coach Joe Austin for four years at Hanover College. 

In his time at Southwestern, Ross has taken on many roles. He began as the Pirates’ defensive coordinator and maintained that position through the 2015 season. During that time, the Southwestern defense improved each season, led by Justin Broussard, the 2015 SCAC sacks leader. 

Ross switched to co-offensive coordinator in 2016, sharing those responsibilities with head coach Joe Austin. Together, they engineered the SCAC’s top offense, leading the conference in scoring and rushing while finishing second in passing, with wide receiver Mat Gillen winning SCAC Offensive Player of the Year and the Pirates winning the conference championship. 

The Pirates maintained a steady offense even as they moved from the SCAC to the ASC, led by a strong running game buoyed by Ross’s work with the offensive line. 

In 2018, Ross helped guide the Pirates past the 30-point mark five times, leading the ASC in time of possession and finishing third in rushing offense and passing efficiency. Quarterback Fred Hover and tight end James Smat earned first-team All-ASC selections with offensive lineman James Smat earning second-team All-ASC honors. In 2022, wide receiver JoJo Wilson was named ASC freshman of the year along with four other offensive starters named All-ASC selections.

Before working with Austin at Hanover, Ross was the head coach for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League for two seasons, posting a 20–6–1 record and leading the division in total offense, scoring offense, rushing, total defense, and scoring defense. Ross was inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 2016. 

His other collegiate coaching experience includes 15 years at Augsburg College, serving stints as defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and offensive coordinator. He also spent time at Carleton College and St. Olaf College. 

Ross received his bachelor’s degree from Augsburg College in 1991 and his master’s degree from Concordia University–Irvine.