Jess Ross To Take Over As Steelville High School Boys Basketball Coach

(Steelville) Steelville High School basketball will have different leaders on the sideline this season. Doug Dunn was hired to be the head coach for the girls team, and Jess Ross will take over as head coach for the Steelville boys.

John Tolly leaves his post as head coach of the Cardinals after nine seasons and three straight district titles.

Ross, who had been working part-time as an advisor in the Viburnum school district, came out of retirement to take this job.

Ross says he is a graduate of Cabool High School. He has 27 years of coaching and teaching experience.

Ross last coached high schoolers at Licking three years ago and crossed paths with Dunn for one year, but they didn’t hash out plans to head to Steelville.

Ross tells us what drew him to get back on the high school sidelines.

Ross says he wants the Cardinals to be aggressive on both offense and defense.

Having spent time at Viburnum and Licking, Ross is familiar with the Steelville basketball program.

With Ross being new to the Steelville community, he was asked what the parents and Steelville citizens should know about him. He says he is very passionate.

Steelville had a record of 176-59 in nine seasons under Tolly.

Full interview: