Duane Ross Explained

Duane Ross
Current Title:Director of Track and Field Programs
Current Team:University of Tennessee
Current Conference:Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Birth Place:Shelby, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma Mater:Clemson
Coach Years1:2022 - present
Coach Team1:Tennessee
Coach Years2:2012 - 2022
Coach Team2:North Carolina A&T
Coach Years3:2008 - 2012
Coach Team3:Methodist University
Coach Years4:1996
Coach Team4:Clemson (assistant)
Championships:MEAC Men's Track and Field Championship Indoor: 1 Outdoor: 1
MEAC Women's Track and Field Championship Indoor: 1 Outdoor: 1
Mason Dixon Conference Track and Field Championship Indoor: 1 Outdoor: 2
Awards:USTFCCCA National Head Coach of the Year 2021 South/Southeast Region Coach of the Year (2011, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2021)
Mason Dixon Conference Indoor Coach of the Year (2011)
Mason Dixon Conference Outdoor Coach of the Year (2011, 2012)
Show-Medals:yes

Randolph Duane Ross (born December 5, 1972) is an American collegiate track and field coach, and former athlete, specializing in the 110 meters hurdles. He is currently the Director of Track and Field programs for the University of Tennessee and is best known for winning the bronze medal at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics and representing the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Ross also won the 1995 NCAA championship in the 110-meter hurdles, and as a 7-time All-American and 5 Time ACC champion is Clemson University's most decorated male hurdler.[1]

Biography

Early life

Ross was born in Shelby, North Carolina, and grew up in Dallas, North Carolina, where he attended North Gaston High School. At the encouragement of his Football coach, Ross took up track and field as a way to rehabilitate an injured ankle.[2] As a junior, Ross went on to become NCHSAA state champion in the 110 metres Hurdles.[3] After receiving a number of scholarships from various collegiate teams, Ross signed with Clemson University.

Athletic career

As a college athlete at Clemson University, he won the 110 m hurdles at the 1995 NCAA championships for the Clemson Tigers. He made his first appearance on the world track stage at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships, where he finished fourth in the 60 meters hurdles competition, just behind compatriot Tony Dees. He returned at the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Maebashi, but again failed to reach the podium with another fourth-place finish, this time losing out to Falk Balzer. He had greater success outdoors that year, as he won the bronze medal in the 110 m hurdles at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics in his career personal best time of 13.12 seconds. An appearance at the 1999 IAAF Grand Prix Final, however, brought yet another fourth-place finish.[4]

He was the runner up at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials and competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He failed to reach the final after running 13.30 seconds for fifth place in the semi-finals of the men's hurdles competition.[5]

Following the analysis of information received from BALCO in 2010, Ross was called to testify in a case against his coach Trevor Graham. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended Ross for two years for attempted use, possession, and trafficking of performance-enhancing drugs.[6] As a term of his suspension, all his results from November 2001 onward were nullified.[7]

Coaching career

He returned to Clemson as a volunteer coach and in 1996. After retiring from international competition, Ross was hired by Division III Methodist University as Head Coach of their Track and Field program. While at Methodist, Ross coached the women's team to three Mason–Dixon Conference championships and placed in the top four at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.[8] Ross also earned USTFCCCA South/Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors.[9] In 2012, after five seasons at Methodist, Ross was hired as director of track & field at Division I North Carolina A&T University. Under Ross, the Aggies swept both the men's and women's outdoor and indoor Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships for the first time in program history.[10] Following the success of the 2017 seasons, Ross coached 13 athletes, more than any HBCU in history, who competed in the 2017 NCAA Division I National Championships.[11]

In 2021, after leading North Carolina A&T's men's track and field team to a third place finish at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Ross was named 2021 NCAA co-coach of the year. Four athletes from the team went on to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics, including Ross's son Randolph Ross and Trevor Stewart.[12]

In May 2022, Ross was hired as the new head coach at Tennessee, signing a five-year contract for $450,000 annually.[13]

Statistics

Personal bests

EventTime (sec)VenueDate
6.36 Liévin, France February 21, 1999
7.42 Madrid, Spain February 16, 1999
13.12 Seville, Spain August 25, 1999
[14]

60m Hurdles progression

YearPerformanceVenueDateWorld ranking
19977.52sAtlanta United States1 March
19987.43sAtlanta United States28 February
19997.42sMadrid Spain16 February
20017.88sSpala Poland9 February

110m Hurdles progression

YearPerformanceVenueDateWorld ranking
199313.74s (+ 0.9)New Orleans United States4 June
199413.48s Philadelphia United States30 April
199513.32s (+1.2) Knoxville United States3 June
199613.45s (+1.8) Atlanta United States21 June
199713.50s (-0.6) Clemson United States17 May
199813.24s (-0.5) Dortmund Germany7 June
199913.12s (+1.0) Seville (La Cartuja) Spain25 August
200013.53s (+0.2) Chapel Hill United States18 June
[14]

International competitions

Representing
1997World Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France4th60 m hurdles
1999World Indoor ChampionshipsMaebashi, Japan4th60 m hurdles
World ChampionshipsSeville, Spainbgcolor=cc9966 3rd110 m hurdles
IAAF Grand Prix FinalMunich, Germany4th110 m hurdles
2003bgcolor=pink World Athletics Finalbgcolor=pink Monte Carlo, Monacobgcolor=pink DSQ (6th)bgcolor=pink 110 m hurdles
2004bgcolor=pink Summer Olympicsbgcolor=pink Athens, Greecebgcolor=pink DSQ (5th (semis))bgcolor=pink 110 m hurdles
bgcolor=pink World Athletics Finalbgcolor=pink Monte Carlo, Monacobgcolor=pink DSQ (8th)bgcolor=pink 110 m hurdles

National competitions

1995NCAA Division I Outdoor ChampionshipsKnoxville Tennessee1st110 m hurdles
1997United States Indoor ChampionshipsAtlanta Georgia2nd60 m hurdles
1998United States Indoor ChampionshipsAtlanta Georgia1st60 m hurdles
US Outdoor ChampionshipsEugene, Oregonbgcolor=pink DNF110m Hurdles
1999United States Indoor ChampionshipsAtlanta Georgia2nd60 m hurdles
US Outdoor ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon4th110m Hurdles
2000US Olympic TrialsSacramento, Californiabgcolor=pink DSQ (semi)110 m hurdles
2001US Outdoor ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon5th (semi)110m Hurdles
2002bgcolor=pink US Outdoor Championshipsbgcolor=pink Eugene, Oregonbgcolor=pink DSQ (4th)bgcolor=pink 110m Hurdles
2003bgcolor=pink US Outdoor Championshipsbgcolor=pink Eugene, Oregonbgcolor=pink DSQ (DNF)bgcolor=pink 110m Hurdles
2004bgcolor=pink US Outdoor Championshipsbgcolor=pink Eugene, Oregonbgcolor=pink DSQ (2nd)bgcolor=pink 110m Hurdles
2005bgcolor=pink US Outdoor Championshipsbgcolor=pink Eugene, Oregonbgcolor=pink DSQ (19th)bgcolor=pink 110m Hurdles
[15]

Coaching record

SeasonTeamIndoor FinishOutdoor FinishNotes
Conference National Conference National
2009Women's7th6th[16] [17]
2010Women's4th5th10th[18] [19]
2011Women's1st4th1st3rd[20]
2012Women's2nd4th1st4th[21]
[22]
2013Men4th5th[23] [24]
Women8th8th
2014Men3rd2nd[25] [26]
Women12th7th
2015Men2nd2nd[27] [28]
Women3rd5th
2016Men2nd2nd[29]
Women3rd4th
2017Men1st1st14th[30] [31]
[32]
Women1st1st
2019Men1st1st15th<-- REFERENCES -->
Women1st7th15th
2020Men1stChampionship not heldChampionship not heldChampionship not held<-- REFERENCES -->
Women1stChampionship not heldChampionship not heldChampionship not held
2021MenChampionship not held5th1st3rd<-- REFERENCES -->
WomenChampionship not held45th1st4th

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ross Reflects on Hall of Fame Career. ClemsonTigers.com. 17 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831132714/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=209680290. August 31, 2017. dead.
  2. Web site: Flagler. Jack. For Duane Ross, a career in track and field began with a pickup basketball injury. Gaston Gazette. 16 July 2017. en.
  3. Web site: NCPrepTrack.com ... Olympians ... North Carolina High School Track & Field and Cross Country. ncpreptrack.org. 17 July 2017.
  4. http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/letter=0/athcode=13844/index.html Ross Duane
  5. https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ro/duane-ross-1.html Duane Ross
  6. http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/News/GeneralNews/05/65/77/20100427082001_httppostedfile_NEWS112_20049.pdf IAAF Newsletter Edition 112
  7. https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/news/story?id=4891868 Ross suspended two years
  8. Web site: Ross Resigns as Methodist Director of Cross Country. USA South. 17 July 2017. en. 13 July 2012.
  9. Web site: Duane Ross Named MU Coach of the Year. Methodist University. 17 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Mills. Jeff. After sweeping four MEAC titles, N.C. A&T track teams look ahead to NCAAs. Greensboro News & Record. 18 July 2017. en.
  11. Web site: Mills. Jeff. A&T, with 13 at NCAA track and field championships, aims for top 10. Greensboro News & Record. 18 July 2017. en.
  12. News: Tennessee hires A&T track and field coach Duane Ross . 31 May 2022 . . 24 May 2022.
  13. News: Sparks . Adam . Tennessee tabs Duane Ross, NCAA coach of the year in 2021, to lead track and field program . . 24 May 2022.
  14. Web site: IAAF: Duane Ross Profile. iaaf.org. 1 August 2017.
  15. Web site: Duane Ross USATF Bio. www.usatf.org. USATF. en.
  16. Web site: 2009 Mason Dixon conference Indoor T&F Championship Results. 7 August 2017.
  17. Web site: 2009 Mason Dixon Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships Results. static.frostburgsports.com. Frostburg State University Athletics. 7 August 2017.
  18. Web site: Mason Dixon conference indoor T&F Championship Results. 7 August 2017.
  19. Web site: 2010 Mason Dixon Conference Frack & Field Championship Results. www.suseagulls.com. Salisbury University Athletics. 7 August 2017. en.
  20. Web site: Methodist University Track and Field and Cross Country - Fayetteville, North Carolina - Events. RunnerSpace.com. 30 July 2017.
  21. Web site: Methodist Women Come From Behind to Win Conference Title. Methodist University. 30 July 2017.
  22. Web site: 2012 Mason Dixon Conference Indoor T&F Championship Results. 7 August 2017.
  23. Web site: 2013 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship Results. MEACsports.com. MEAC. 1 August 2017.
  24. Web site: MEACOutdoorFinalResults - NCATAggies.com - The Official Site of North Carolina A&T Athletics. www.ncataggies.com. NC A&T State University Athletics. 1 August 2017. en.
  25. Web site: 2014 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship Results. MEACSports.com. MEAC. 1 August 2017.
  26. Web site: 2014 MEAC Outdoor Frack & Field Championship Results. MEACsports.com. MEAC. 1 August 2017.
  27. Web site: 2015 MEAC Indoor T&F Championship Results. 1 August 2017.
  28. Web site: 2015 MEAC Outdoor T&F Championship Results. MEACsports.com. Mid-eastern Athletic Conference. 1 August 2017.
  29. Web site: 2016 MEAC Indoor Championship Results. 1 August 2017.
  30. Web site: NCAA Outdoor Championships Team Scores. www.ncaa.com. 1 August 2017.
  31. Web site: All-Time Men's Indoor Champions. MEACSports.com. 1 August 2017. en.
  32. Web site: All-Time Women's Indoor Champions. MEACSports.com. 1 August 2017. en.