Ross named East Central head women’s soccer coach

East Central Community College will have a familiar face patrolling the women’s soccer sidelines this fall as Patrick Ross was hired as the team’s next head coach, the school announced Monday.

Ross takes the reins of ECCC’s women’s soccer program after serving four years as an assistant coach at fellow MACCC program Copiah-Lincoln.

“Patrick really brings everything to the table in terms of experience, having played and coached in the MACCC,” ECCC Director of Athletics Paul Nixon said. “Coming from another conference opponent, he understands our league and is well connected within the state.”

Ross is no stranger to Decatur, as he was a three-year letterwinner at Newton County High School; he transferred to Madison Central High School for his senior season. He began his collegiate soccer career at Hinds Community College and concluded his career at NAIA William Carey University.

“I’m super excited about the opportunity to start my head coaching career and couldn’t be at a better place than EC,” Ross said. “I grew up around the area and to give the area what they gave me growing up is exciting.”

Winning follows Ross wherever he has played and coached. He won multiple state high school championships, two MACCC championships at Hinds, and two Southern States Athletic Conference championships at William Carey. As an assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams at Copiah-Lincoln, he helped lead both teams to improved records in each of the last three seasons.

With Ross’ guidance, Copiah-Lincoln’s women compiled a 10-4-3 record in 2022, while the men turned in a 7-1-2 record.

In addition to his experience as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, Ross has also served as a head coach with the Mississippi Rush United club, coaching youths ages 13 through 18.

“Patrick brings great familiarity with our ECCC campus community as a Newton County native,” Nixon said. “We are excited to begin the Ross era of Lady Warrior soccer!”