Football
- Title:
- Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator
- Email:
- aross3@richmond.edu
- Phone:
- 289-8374
2023 was Adam Ross' seventh season on Russ Huesman’s staff at Richmond and his first as Co-Offesnive Coordinator. He was previously the run game coordinator/offensive line coach from 2018 to 2022 and spent the 2017 season as the Spiders’ offensive line coach.
2023 saw Ross step into the role of co-offensive coordinator where he lead a Richmond offense to the top of the national rankings in several statistics categories including completion percentage (9th), pass efficiency (24th), passing touchdowns (11th), first downs (23rd) and fourth down conversion (9th). Under Ross, the Spiders reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2016. Richmond earned a share of the CAA title for the first time since 2015 and advanced to the FCS Playoffs Second Round for the second year in a row. Ross helped quarterback Kyle Wickersham lead the nation in completion percentage and was 23rd in the nation in pass efficiency. Ross' 2023 offensive line helped the Spiders average 345 yards and 28.2 points per game, while Ryan Coll was named Top Offensive Lineman in Virginia by Touchdown Club of Richmond as well as an All-American by the AP and Phil Steele.
Ross and the 2022 offensive line helped Reece Udinski pull off one of the greatest single seasons ever by a Richmond quarterback. The offensive line allowed Udinski to throw for 3,614 yards, becoming just the third UR quarterback to throw for over 3,000 yards in a single season. He threw 29 touchdown passes and rushed in four while being protected by Ross' offensive line. During Richmond's first-ever playoff shutout victory against Davidson, Udinski connected on 29-of-32 pass attempts for his highest completion percentage (90.3%) of the season. With his performance, he set the FCS playoffs single-game record for completion percentage. Thanks to the offensive line, the Spiders only gave up 26 sacks against in 2022, ranking sixth in the CAA. In 2022 he led Ryan Coll to First Team and Joe More to Second Team All-CAA honors, while Coll was named both an AP and Phil Steele All-American.
The offense as a whole put up impressive numbers in 2022. Richmond's quick-tempo offense led the CAA in total plays with 990 and was second in total yards with 5,513, averaging 424.1 yards of offense per game. Richmond was sixth in the CAA in rushing yards in 2022 with 1,840, while the team's 3,673 passing yards led the conference by over 200.
The Spiders had one of their most consistent offensive lines during Ross' career in 2022, with five offensive linemen starting at least 12 games each. Of Ross' five starting linemen in 2022, three started every game in Coll, Tom Elia and Cade Salyers while Joe More and Keith Gouveia only missed one start/game apiece.
2021 saw Clayton McConnell was named First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association while Tim Coleman earned Third Team All-CAA accolades. The Spiders had one of their most consistent offensive lines during Ross' career in 2021, with five offensive linemen starting at least six games apiece.
During the shortened spring season in 2021, the Spiders offensive line saw two selections on the Colonial Athletic Association All-Conference teams in center Clayton McConnell and tackle Tim Coleman. The Spiders' offense finish fifth in the conference in rushing at 153.2 yards per game and allowed quarterback Joe Mancuso to rank second in the league in total offense at 224.0 yards per game.
In 2019, the Spiders rushed for almost 2,000 yards as a team, including over 600 yards from quarterback Joe Mancuso. Tim Coleman, Clayton McConnell, Seyoum Settepani and Tazle Sumpter started all 12 games for the Spiders while Joe More started all 10 games he was healthy.
2018 might have been Ross' best as his unit battled through injuries to be one of the most consistent units on the team. The Spiders' offensive line was decimated by injuries and in some games only dressed six healthy offensive line. Despite that, three Spider offensive lineman started ever game in John Yarbrough, Tim Coleman and Seyoum Settepani. Yarbrough earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors and was named the top offensive lineman in the state of Virginia by the Richmond Touchdown Club.
Under Ross’ guidance last year, the Spiders only allowed 23 sacks against, ranking fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association. Alex Light was named First Team All-CAA for his play at guard while John Yarbrough was named Third Team All-CAA at center. Light was an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers and made the 53-man roster in 2018, starting a game late in the season.
Ross comes to Richmond after spending 2016 on Huesman’s staff at Chattanooga. During his time with the Mocs, UTC ranked in the top-25 nationally in rushing offense and he coached two All-Americans in Corey Levin and Jacob Revis.
Prior to his time in Chattanooga, Ross spent two years as the offensive line coach at West Alabama. UWA led the Gulf South Conference in rushing in 2014, averaging nearly 230 yards per game, and was in the top 16 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed each of the two years. He also guided Kennedy Estelle to NCAA Division II All-American honors in 2015.
Prior to his stint at West Alabama, Ross spent 11 years at Jacksonville State. There he coached the offensive line, tight ends and special teams, while also serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. He began his career as a graduate assistant at JSU in 2002. With Ross on the staff, the Gamecocks won three Ohio Valley Conference titles.
After walking on as a player at Jacksonville State, Ross went on to earn a scholarship and start three seasons at center for the Gamecocks. He anchored an offensive line that led the Southland Conference in rushing in both 2000 and 2001. He was a two-time selection to the Southland Conference All-Academic Team.
Ross earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Jacksonville State, graduating with honors. His undergraduate degree is in Collaborative Special Education and his Master's is in Educational Administration. Ross is married to the former Leah Harwell and they have two daughters, Emma Jewell and Ann.
