The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Bobby Ross

Followed Todd Berry. Bobby Ross held Army at Regional Program V for 3 seasons.

Peak, then fade
103–101
1973–2006 · 4 stints
The CitadelMarylandGeorgia TechArmy
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Career arc

His real stature score, season by season, across every program he’s coached — so a stretch that stays in one tier the whole way can still climb or sink on the line, not just flatten out. Node color marks the tier reached. Which program a stretch belongs to is carried by the shaded lane behind it.

Stature score reached, by season of his head-coaching careerTHE CITADELMARYLANDGEORGIA TECHARMYPower Programperennial contenderNational Programrespectable, streakyRegional Programthe building-block levelThe Citadel, 1973: 3-8, Regional Program IV1973The Citadel, 1974: 4-7, Regional Program IVThe Citadel, 1975: 6-5, Regional Program IVThe Citadel, 1976: 6-5, Regional Program IVThe Citadel, 1977: 5-6, Regional Program IV1977-2.2Maryland, 1982: 8-4, Power Program III1982Maryland, 1983: 8-4, Power Program IIIMaryland, 1984: 9-3, Power Program IIMaryland, 1985: 9-3, Power Program IIMaryland, 1986: 5-5, Power Program II1986+6.3Georgia Tech, 1987: 2-9, National Program III1987Georgia Tech, 1988: 3-8, National Program IIIGeorgia Tech, 1989: 7-4, National Program IIIGeorgia Tech, 1990: 11-0, National Program IGeorgia Tech, 1991: 8-5, National Program I1991+4.3Army, 2004: 2-9, Regional Program V2004Army, 2005: 4-7, Regional Program VArmy, 2006: 3-9, Regional Program V2006-0.2One point per coached season, in career order; dashed segments are program changes — spacing is not proportional to calendar time

Reached Power Program in his 6th career season — faster than 25% of the 395 FBS coaches who have ever reached Power Program (rank #279 of 395 by seasons-to-arrival).

The Citadel, 5 seasons
−2.2
Regional Program IV → Regional Program IV.
Maryland, 5 seasons
+6.3
Power Program III → Power Program II.
Georgia Tech, 5 seasons
+4.3
National Program III → National Program I.
Army, 3 seasons
−0.2
Regional Program V → Regional Program V.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

3–8 against his rivals. Just 1–5 against Dick Sheridan.

Rivalry record
3–8
27.3% · 3 rivals
One-score games
32–34–2
47.1% · margin ≤8
vs. Blue Blood or better
1–5
16.7%
Rivalry ledger
Georgia2–340%
Air Force1–233%
Navy0–30%
The toughest matchupNemesis
vs. Dick Sheridan1–5
6 meetings, 1986–1991
’86 L’87 L’88 L’89 L’90 W’91 L
Performance by opponent class
Blue Blood
1–5 16.7%
Power Program
15–17 46.9%
National Program
25–22 53.2%
Regional Program
38–42 47.5%

Coaching career

2004–2006
Armycaretaker
Regional Program V → Regional Program V
Bobby Ross held Army at Regional Program V for 3 seasons.

15th-best Army tenure of 17 by the numbers.

Followed Todd Berry (2000–2003) · succeeded by Stan Brock (2007–2008).

9–25
1987–1991
Georgia Techcaretaker
National Program II → National Program I
Bobby Ross moved Georgia Tech from National Program II to National Program I in 5 seasons.

5th-best Georgia Tech tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Bill Curry (1980–1986) · succeeded by Bill Lewis (1992–1993).

6 NFL Draft picks: Reggie Rutland (1987), Willis Crockett (1989), Calvin Tiggle (1991), Marco Coleman (1992), Mike Mooney (1992), Ken Swilling (1992)

31–26
1982–1986
Marylandcaretaker
Power Program III → Power Program II
Bobby Ross moved Maryland from Power Program III to Power Program II in 5 seasons.

3rd-best Maryland tenure of 21 by the numbers.

Followed Jerry Claiborne (1972–1981) · succeeded by Joe Krivak (1987–1991).

15 NFL Draft picks: John Tice (1983), Mark Duda (1983), Gurnest Brown (1983), Pete Koch (1984), Ron Solt (1984), Boomer Esiason (1984), Dave D'Addio (1984), Willie Joyner (1984) + 7 more

39–19
1973–1977
The Citadelcaretaker
Regional Program IV → Regional Program IV
Bobby Ross held The Citadel at Regional Program IV for 5 seasons.

3rd-best The Citadel tenure of 4 by the numbers.

Followed Red Parker (1966–1972) · succeeded by Art Baker (1978–1981).

24–31