North Carolina A&T Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III announced the appointment of Monté Ross as the new head men's basketball coach on April 10, 2023. Ross became the 14th head coach in the history of the A&T men's basketball program.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Ross has spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach with the Temple Owls. Before landing with the Owls, Ross spent 10 seasons (2006-16) as the head coach for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Delaware Blue Hens.
"This is an exciting time in North Carolina A&T Athletics, and coach Ross adds to that excitement," said Hilton. "Coach Ross brings a decade of head coaching experience in the CAA, where he was tasked with building a program. He had some outstanding seasons for the Delaware men's basketball program, and we think that translates well for us at North Carolina A&T as we strive to win championships in the CAA. We hired the best person to lead and mentor our young men on and off the court."
A 1992 graduate of Winston-Salem State, Ross played for legendary head coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines from 1988-92. After spending 13 seasons as an assistant coach at various Division I programs, Ross became the Blue Hens' coach in 2006.
In his sixth season at Delaware, he led the Blue Hens to an 18-14 record overall and a 12-6 mark in the CAA. The Blue Hens appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) before going 19-14 the following season, finishing second in the CAA with a 13-5 mark. He followed the second-place finish with one of the best seasons in Blue Hens program history. They posted a 25-10 record, winning the CAA regular-season title with a 14-2 record and the tournament championship.
In advancing to the NCAA tournament, it marked just the fifth NCAA tournament appearance in program history and the first since 1999. For his efforts, Ross earned CAA Coach of the Year. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association honored him with the Clarence "Big House" Gaines Division I Coach of the Year award. In addition, he earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches UPS District 10 Coach of the Year award. He posted 132 wins at Delaware, the second most in program history.
Ross also had tremendous success at Saint Joseph's as an assistant coach for 10 seasons (1996-06). In 2003-04, the Hawks went 27-0 during the regular season and rose to No. 1 in the nation before ending their season with a 30-2 record after a loss in the Elite Eight. Saint Joseph's made it to the postseason seven times during Ross' tenure there, including four NCAA appearances.
Ross has also had assistant positions at Drexel (1994-96) and Lehigh (1993-94). He was on the staff that saw Drexel win its first-ever NCAA tournament game with an upset win over Memphis in 1996.
Ross and his wife, Michelle, relocated to Greensboro. They have two children, Justin Monté and Lauren Noelle.
