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Purdue University Athletics

Ross Announces Plans to Retire as Head Coach

3/7/2023 11:51:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving

Lifelong Boilermaker has been the head coach of men's swimming & diving since 1985-86

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Lifelong Boilermaker Dan Ross has announced his intention to retire as the leader of men's swimming & diving, capping a distinguished 42-year career that has seen Ross become the second-longest tenured head coach in the history of Purdue Athletics.

Ross has been the head coach of the Boilermakers since the 1985-86 school year, a remarkable 38-year tenure that spanned both the Lambert Pool and Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center eras of the program. As a Purdue alumnus that originally arrived on campus in the fall of 1977 and later a four-year assistant coach from 1981-82 to 1984-85, Ross has been associated with Purdue Swimming & Diving for 46 seasons.

"Dan Ross and Purdue Swimming & Diving have become virtually synonymous over the past 40-plus years," said Mike Bobinski, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "Dan has dedicated his life's work to Purdue University and used his platform, first as an assistant coach, then through a remarkable 38-year head coaching tenure, to positively impact the lives of countless student-athletes, coaches and staff members. The connections Dan has with our former swimmers is a testament to his character and influence on their success while at Purdue and beyond. Purdue Athletics is forever grateful to Dan for his unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of the student-athlete experience, and we look forward to building from his vision and honoring his legacy in the years ahead. Dan is the epitome of a Purdue Boilermaker, and we wish him and his family all the best as he steps away to begin a well-earned next chapter."

Ross plans to coach the Boilermakers at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship and NCAA Championships in the coming weeks and officially retire at the end of June, one day after his 64th birthday on June 29.

Ross won his three Big Ten Coach of the Year awards in three different decades – 1988, 1997 and 2009. He helped design the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center. Under his guidance, Purdue has scored at the NCAA Championships in 26 consecutive seasons and finished top 25 in 14 of the last 17. Ross has guided Boilermakers to international berths at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Pan Pacific Games, World University Games, Southeast Asian Games and Maccabi Games. He was part of the U.S. coaching staff at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok.

"It has been the privilege of my life to coach this team," Ross said. "I loved every swimmer that I had the honor of coaching here at Purdue – from Lambert Pool or the original outdoor pool at the CoRec to the last 20 years at an unbelievable facility that is the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center. I told the current team, 'I love each and every one of you unconditionally and that will never go away.' This was a difficult decision, but my family helped me confirm what I knew in my heart – that it was time. Purdue Swimming & Diving is in amazing hands because of the people within the program that have made my final season a very special one."

Recently, the men's program produced at least one Big Ten champion every year from 2015 to 2021. The Boilermakers won multiple individual Big Ten titles on nine occasions during Ross' tenure.

Ross' vision and selflessness helped attract head diving coach Adam Soldati to Purdue in the spring of 2005, which in turn led to 13 NCAA diving national titles and multiple Olympic successes. John Klinge, David Boudia and Darlene Renie all work alongside Ross at the Burke Aquatic Center after enjoying successful careers as Purdue student-athletes at assorted segments of Ross' time as the patriarch of Boilermaker Swimming & Diving.

"It is with great joy and excitement for Dan, as he transitions into the next stage of life, but also with great sadness to think of Purdue Swimming & Diving without our pillar of faithfulness and patience," Soldati said. "For the last 18 years, Dan Ross has been a colleague, a mentor, a leader, but most importantly, a faithful brother and dear friend. I was beyond blessed to start my career here as a young, arrogant diving coach with a man like Dan Ross to work alongside and gently show the way. I'm forever grateful for one of the greatest Boilermakers ever!"

"Dan has been the cornerstone to this swimming & diving program," Boudia said. "With his help, Purdue Diving has been able to become one of the best programs in the country. Dan will leave a rich tradition of showing you can find enjoyment in hard work and discipline that can lead to achieving your goals."



Ross has been the dean of Purdue coaches since his friend and golf partner Gene Keady's retirement following the 2004-05 basketball season. Ross is also the dean of Big Ten swimming & diving coaches. This summer the distinction of being the dean of Purdue coaches transfers to another friend and confidant – volleyball's Dave Shondell (20 seasons).

In the history of Purdue Athletics, only Larry LeBree's 40-season run with men's tennis from 1925 to 1964 ranks as a longer tenure among head coaches. Coincidentally, LeBree also coached swimming for 15 seasons at Purdue.

"Dan has been the face of Purdue Swimming & Diving for the last four decades," Klinge said. "He has influenced hundreds of young men and women. For me personally, Dan recruited me, coached me and mentored me. He has been a tremendous colleague and a true friend."

This season Ross ranked as the fifth-longest tenured active swimming & diving head coach working at the NCAA Division I level.

LONGEST TENURED HEAD COACHES IN THE HISTORY OF PURDUE ATHLETICS
Larry LaBree, Men's Tennis – 40 Seasons (1925-64, also coached swimming for 15 seasons)
Dan Ross, Men's Swimming & Diving – 38 Seasons (1986-2023)
Dave Rankin, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field – 36 Seasons (1946-81)
Dick Papenguth, Men's Swimming & Diving – 31 Seasons (1939-69)
Claude Reeck, Wrestling – 31 Seasons (1938-69)
Ward "Piggy" Lambert, Men's Basketball – 29 Seasons (1917, 1919-46; also coached baseball for 20 seasons)
Mike Poehlein, Cross Country/Track & Field – 29 Seasons (1973-2001)
Gene Keady, Men's Basketball – 25 Seasons (1981-2005)
Sam Voinhoff, Men's Golf – 25 Seasons (1945, 1951-74)
Devon Brouse, Golf – 25 Seasons (1998-2002)
Cathy Wright-Eger, Women's Swimming & Diving – 21 Seasons (1988-2008)
Carol Dewey, Volleyball – 20 Seasons (1975-94)
Dave Shondell, Volleyball – 20 Seasons (2003-Present)

LONGEST TENURED ACTIVE NCAA DI SWIMMING & DIVING HEAD COACHES
As of March 1, 2023
Eddie Reese, Texas – 45th Season
Pete Hovland, Oakland – 44th Season
Nick Cavataro, Iona – 43rd Season
James Bolster, Columbia – 39th Season
Dan Ross, Purdue – 38th Season
Shari Skabelund, BYU – 36th Season

Ross is beloved throughout the college swimming & diving community. A year ago, he was a recipient of the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America's Richard E. Steadman Award, which recognizes individuals for doing the most to spread happiness in the sport.

Fresno State head coach Jeanne Fleck noted, "[Dan] helps everyone, including other coaches, and would go out of his way to make you feel welcome and important." Michigan State's Matt Gianiodis agreed, writing that "Dan is the most positive person I have ever met. He cares first and foremost about the sport. He has happiness and pride in his team excelling, but he also feels the same way about rivals. His attitude is infectious."

"Dan unequivocally has made an impression on all that have shared the pool deck with him – demonstrating that this sport, and life for that matter, is about loving the people you're with," said Alex Jerden, Purdue's current assistant coach. "In just the few years I've been here, it's been inspiring to witness the loyalty and enthusiasm Dan has demonstrated for this program, and how he keeps his family at the center of his world. He has shown so many student-athletes – and his fellow coaches – how to make yourself, your school, and your sport better. He's done so in a way that only Dan Ross could do! It's been a privilege to work alongside a great mentor, lifelong Boilermaker, and someone that I and many others will miss very much."

Ross' open-minded philosophy and dedication to inclusiveness helped make annual home meets like the Purdue Invitational and Indiana Intercollegiates among the most well-attended showcases in the Midwest during the fall semester.

Those same ideals were always on display with how Purdue assembled its roster. The program's lists of All-Americans, Big Ten champions and academic achievers over the last 38 years has included a bevy of in-state products as well as Boilermakers from across the United States. Purdue's successes in international recruiting attracted standouts from Australia, Croatia, France, Hungary, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia and Turkey.

Ross has impacted the lives of hundreds of Boilermakers – thousands when accounting for the women's team at the aquatic center, with the two programs together representing the full Purdue Swimming & Diving family. Over three dozen classes of student-athletes at the pool have benefited from Ross' wisdom, life lessons and kindheartedness.

"I have had the opportunity to represent Purdue in several different capacities, all with the same strong, constant figure of Dan Ross," Renie said. "As a college athlete, Dan was my summer coach who consistently challenged me toward success. As the women's assistant coach, I always felt a strong sense of support from Dan. Now in an operations role, I get a first-hand look at how much Dan cares for the team – creating an environment for success in and out of the pool for his student-athletes. Most importantly, Dan leaves a lasting impression in their lives as young men. Dan Ross is, and will always be, synonymous with Purdue Swimming & Diving. There is simply no way to articulate how much he will be missed."

In the fall of 2021, the Daniel P. Ross Swimming & Diving Scholarship Endowment was established to aid future Boilermakers in their student-athlete experience. Program alumni Ross Croasdell, Larry Becker and Dan Moll teamed up to form the endowment, opting to name it in honor of their coach.

Ross and wife Sally, a Big Ten champion swimmer in the 200 and 400 individual medley for Purdue in 1980, raised their three sons – Eric, Matt and Andy – in West Lafayette. All three boys grew up around Lambert Pool and the Burke Aquatic Center. They all went on to swim collegiately. Eric, Matt and Andy were all on hand in Ann Arbor last month so as not to miss what could have been their father's final time coaching the Boilermakers at the Big Ten Championships. Emotions were on display throughout Purdue's portion of the deck during the Saturday evening finals session to wrap up the meet. Purdue Athletics is making plans to collect submissions from swimming & diving alumni, Boilermakers from all across campus, and those in the swimming & diving community wishing to contribute to a Dan Ross tribute series set to be released later this spring.

COACH ROSS BY THE NUMBERS AT PURDUE
1 – U.S. Open National Champion
3 – Big Ten Coach of the Year Honors (in 3 different decades)
5 – Purdue Male Athletes of the Year
6 – Academic All-Americans
9 – Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipients
13 – NCAA Diving National Championship Titles
26 – Consecutive Seasons Scoring at the NCAA Championships
34 – Individual Big Ten Titles
38 – Years as Head Coach
46 – Years Associated with Purdue Swimming & Diving
52 – All-Americans
208 – Dual Meet Victories

Example submission for the Dan Ross Tribute Series from Dan's friend & teammate Joe Baer…
"In August of 1978, I started my freshman year at Purdue. I wanted to fully embrace college life and decided to attend The Island Fling at one of the fraternities. On my way over, I ran into a fellow underclassman swimmer named Dan Ross and he and I went to the gathering together. I really appreciated this at the time since I was new to the team. What I didn't realize at the time was that I had found my lifelong best friend. We roomed together the next year and until I graduated. College life suited us and our friendship grew exponentially during that time. I have known for many years, what most of you have also found out, Dan Ross is the BEST human being there is. Best Friend, Best Man (each for the other), Best Godfather to my oldest son, and the list goes on and on. Outside of my parents, he has been one of the most influential people in my life.

"The first year we roomed together, Dan was a chemical engineering major like his father, but decided to change his major and become a coach. It was a difficult decision, but not one he ever regretted. Based on his storied career, it was one of the best decisions of his life. His career as the head coach of the Boilermaker swimming program is legendary. No one will ever do what he has done at Purdue; I am just glad that I was able to go along for the ride. I am so very proud of you. Congratulations on a Hall of Fame career!"