Ronnie Ross enters his second season as a student manager with the Utah Valley University men’s basketball program. He is serving as the Player Development Coordinator for the team this season.
Ross enjoyed a successful first year as a member of the staff during the 2020-21 season. After returning just two players, welcoming 16 newcomers, and being picked seventh in the WAC preseason polls last season, Utah Valley finished atop the league standings and won the WAC regular season title. The championship is only the second WAC title in UVU history and its first since the 2014 season. The Wolverines were one of the most unselfish teams in the nation last season, averaging 16.8 assists per game, which ranked 11th nationally. UVU's 2020-21 team was the only team in the WAC to defeat every team in the league.
Four UVU players earned All-WAC honors in 2021, including first team, second team, and honorable mention awards. Fardaws Aimaq became the first player in UVU history to earn both WAC Player of the Year honors and the WAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Aimaq became the first player in 40 years to average 15 rebounds a game and was the nation's leader in total rebounds, rebounds per game, and defensive rebounds per game. Aimaq also earned All-District honors and was named a finalist for both the Lou Henson Player of the Year award and the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year award. Aimaq won Riley Wallace Award, which is given annually to the top transfer in Division I college basketball.
Ross is the founder of Utah Elite where he has coached seven teams to a state championship and three to the national championships. Ross had a successful professional career overseas, playing with teams in Kosovo, Bosnia, Hungary, Macedonia, and Switzerland. He also participated in invitational workouts with the Portland Trailblazers and then-Seattle Supersonics. Ross specializes in player development and coaching at multiple levels. He also spent time coaching with NIKE EYBL Vegas Elite.
Ross was a two-time first-team all-conference and all-region selection at John Wood junior college in Quincy, Illinois. He then transferred to play for Stew Morrill at Utah State and played for the Aggies for two seasons from 2001-03. He ranked 10th in the conference in assists and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks ninth all-time at USU. He led the Aggies to a Big West Conference regular season title, a Big West Tournament championship, an NCAA Tournament bid, and an NIT appearance.
