Oak Forest Resident Named Head Volleyball Coach At Loras College

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest Native Dylan Ross has been named the head coach of the men's volleyball team at Loras College, a private Catholic institution in Dubuque, Iowa. Ross is a graduate of the college, according to Loras College Director of Athletics Denise Udelhofen.

The college said Ross graduated from Loras in 2018, with a degree in sport management and a minor in marketing. He holds a master's degree in sports administration from Arkansas State University which he completed in 2019. According to the college, Ross returns to his alma mater from Bradley University where he served as the assistant coach for the women's volleyball team.

"I am excited to have Dylan back as a Duhawk," said Udelhofen. "He was a terrific player and someone who made sure to put the team first. I look forward to seeing him make this team his own and take the men's volleyball program to new heights."

Before Bradley, Ross spent the 2018 season as a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas State University, where the Red Wolves landed a 19-14 record. He then went on to the University of Houston and helped the team achieve a 10-6 win, after a 4-14 season in 2018, the college said.

According to the college, Ross holds an impressive resume as a student-athlete at Loras, playing on the inaugural team in 2015, and ending his career with single season and career kills records. He was a Second Team All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) performer in 2018, after helping the Duhawks to the MCVL championship match, the college said.

"He tallied 236 kills in 2018, ranking second all-time, and his 767 career kills is the program record. Ross still stands as the program's leading point scorer with 921 points and ranks second with 54 career service aces," the college said. He is the second head coach in program history.

"I want to thank Jim Collins, Art Sunleaf and Denise Udelhofen for the opportunity to come back and coach the program I helped start in 2015," Ross said. "I am excited to jumpstart my head coaching career with a program and college I love and look forward to getting to work with the men for this season."

The college said the Duhawks start the 2021 season on Friday, Feb. 5 at Edgewood College. First serve is set for 8 p.m.