6A Coach of the Year - 2008

Bill Ross
Derby

Coach Ross and the Derby Panthers made the 6A State Tournament very exciting.  Coach Ross is well known for team building and instilling a no excuses attitude in his wrestlers.  Those qualities showed themselves at the state tournament as the Derby Panther pushed for a state title but came up a little short while placing 10 wrestlers in the top 4 and finishing second as a team.  DHS finished the season with a 15-1 dual record and were the AVCTL Division 1 champions.

Coach Ross began coaching as an assistant under KWCA Hall of Fame coach Gary Harding at Salina Central High School.  From there he became a Head Coach at Sabetha from 1995-2001 and is currently the Head Coach at Derby High School.  He has coached 45 state placers and 7 state champions.  Overall Coach Ross has a career dual record of 130-51-1.

Coach Ross is a Physical Education teacher at DHS.  He graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University.  In high school he wrestled for Arkansas City High School under KWCA Hall of Fame coach Wayne Jackson and was a 2-time state finalist.