Doug Ross, the legendary UAH hockey coach, has died at age 70

1 31 17POTW — UAH hockey coach Doug Ross (5th from left) was instrumental in lanching the UAH hockey program. (UAH)

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is mourning the loss of one of the school’s legends, as former hockey coach Doug Ross passed away Tuesday at the age of 70.

The leader of the UAH hockey program for 25 years, Ross began in Huntsville in 1982 and guided the team to a pair of national championships.

A true leader at UAH

Doug Ross Memorium — UAH posted this memorial photo to soicial media Wednesday. (UAH)

Where does one start when talking about the impact Doug Ross had on UAH athletics? Well, put simply, Ross put UAH hockey on the map and solidified Huntsville as a true hockey town — right here in Alabama.

Ross came to UAH in 1982, and after winning a couple of national championships at the club level, spearheaded the UAH hockey program’s move to the NCAA.

After his Chargers joined the NCAA, Ross compiled 376 wins — including two NCAA Division II National Championships in 1996 and 1998. In total at UAH, Ross was 451-272-45, with 16 winning seasons and eight different campaigns with at least 20 victories.

More accomplishments for Doug Ross

cut 2 — Doug Ross put UAH hockey on the national map, having 26 All-CHA performers and 19 Division II All-Americans. (UAH Athletics)

In addition to his postseason success at the Division II level, Ross also shepherded UAH to two College Hockey America regular season titles and two NCAA Division I tournament berths after the program transitioned to the next level for the 1998-99 season.

Overall in his time with the Chargers, Ross coached two CHA Players of the Year, two CHA Student-Athletes of the Year, 26 All-CHA performers and 19 Division II All-Americans. He was inducted as a member of the inaugural UAH Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 2021 for his incredible tenure with UAH hockey.

Prior to building the UAH hockey program, Ross was an All-CCHA performer at Bowling Green from 1973-75 and represented America as a member of Team USA at the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

He became head coach at Kent State in 1979, leading the club team into NCAA Division I in 1980-81. Overall, Ross won 505 games as a college hockey head coach.

Doug’s son Jared played at UAH from 2001-05 and became the Chargers’ top scorer in their modern Division I era. Jared was the first Charger in the NHL, playing 22 games with the Philadelphia Flyers over the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

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