Kelsy Ross was the head women's soccer coach at Bates from 2011-2018.
Ross guided the team to an increased tactical and formational flexibility during her time as the program’s leader. The Bobcats demonstrated a renewed commitment under her guidance, and the team made a number of internal developments.
In 2011, Ross helped develop back Elizabeth “Bud”Arens ’13 and goalkeeper Annie Burns ’12 into Second Team All-NESCAC level players after just narrowly missing the conference tournament.
Ross earned her NSCAA Advanced Coaching License in June of 2013 after gaining an NSCAA National Coaching License in June of 2012.
With her coaching savvy, drive and enthusiasm, Ross made an immediately strong and positive impact on the team in the 2010 season, assisting former head coach Jim Murphy in his final season of leading the team. Under Murphy and Ross, the Bobcats finished the season 6-8-2 overall and made it to the semifinals of the NESCAC Women’s Soccer Championship for the first time since 2006. The team upset No. 1-seeded Tufts in the quarterfinals of thetournament marking the first time that a No. 8 seed had defeated a No. 1 seed in the NESCAC women’s soccer tournament.
In April of 2011, Bates Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh announced the appointment of Ross as the seventh head coach of the Bates College women’s soccer team with much anticipation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kelsy Ross as BatesCollege’s new women’s soccer coach,” said McHugh.“The search committee did a superb job with the process and narrowed down a very competitive field of more than 100 applicants to three outstanding finalists. Through the interview session,Kelsy established herself as the clear choice to be the new head coach. She has a unique combination of coaching experience and considerable soccer knowledge, competitive zeal and infectiousenergy that promises to lead the program to new heights.”
“There’s been a natural tradition of excellence here at Bates from the beginning of the women’s soccer program [in1980], and over the past 17 years Coach Murphy has done fantastic things. Continuing that tradition and going beyond it on a consistent basis is what I’m most excited about.”
A graduate of Greely High School in nearby Cumberland, Maine, Ross played varsity soccer and basketball at Roanoke College in Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a concentration in communications in 2005. She held various coaching and athletic administration positions at Greely, Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth high schools while working towards her master’s degree in physical education from Springfield College. At Springfield, Ross worked as a graduate assistant in the athletic department and was head coach of the Pride’s junior varsity women’s soccer team, which finished as the runner-up for the NEWMAC conference championship in 2009.
Ross also served as assistant coach of the women’s basketball team at Bates in the 2010-11 season, helping Murphy coach the Bobcats to a 17-8 record, their finest since 2006.
