Football
Ross III, James
James Ross III
- Title:
- Outside Linebackers/Defensive Ends & Run-Game Coordinator
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• James Ross III joined University of Houston Football in January 2024 as its Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach. In January 2025, he was named Outside Linebackers / Defensive Ends & Run-Game Coordinator. The 2025 season will be his second with the Cougars. Ross came to Houston from Tulane where he spent the 2023 season as Senior Defensive Analyst.
• In 2024, Ross III's unit played a key role in a Houston defense which ranked 26th nationally and 18th in the Power Four in total defense (324.8). He helped tutor defensive end Keith Cooper Jr. who was named Second Team All-Big 12 Conference during his first season in the league. Cooper Jr. finished his season ranked ninth among Power Four edge defenders in QB hits.
• The Cougars held opponents under 100 yards rushing five times, ranking 21st nationally and second in the Big 12, while limiting the opposition to one or no rushing scores in nine different contests. Through the air, Houston's 2,266 passing yards allowed were its fewest in a non-COVID season (eight games played) in 30 years (2,160 yards in 1994).
• At Tulane, Ross III helped direct one of the nation’s top defenses. Tulane led The American Athletic Conference in passes intercepted (17) and turnovers forced (25). The Green Wave’s 25 turnovers gained entering bowl season ranked second nationally and marked the program’s most in seven seasons (27 in 2016).
• The team finished ranked inside the Top 30 nationally in eight statistical categories including turnovers gained (25; 2nd) passes interception (17; 3rd), rushing defense (93.5; 7th), scoring defense (18.9; 19th), fourth-down conversion percentage defense (42.9%; 24th), team sacks/game (2.62; 26th), tackles for loss (6.3; 30th) and fumbles recovered (8; 30th).
• Prior to Tulane, Ross III spent the 2022 season as Outside Linebackers Coach at Cincinnati. There, he was responsible for creating defensive game plans and coordinating meetings with his position group in addition to assisting with the evaluation, recruitment and retention of student-athletes.
• He joined the Bearcats from Hope College where he served as the Flying Dutchmen's linebackers coach in 2021 and had recently been promoted to defensive coordinator.Â
• Ross was a three-year starter at linebacker at Michigan from 2012 to 2015. He also spent three seasons as a graduate assistant with the Wolverines from 2018 to 2020.
• Ross appeared in 50 games for the Wolverines, making 21 starts and collecting four letters. He finished his career with 188 tackles and 16.5 TFLs. The Orchard Park, Mich., native was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team by ESPN in 2012.
• Ross started coaching following a brief stint with the San Diego Chargers in 2016, who signed the linebacker out of college.
• As a graduate assistant, Ross helped Michigan coach linebackers and mentored five NFL players, including Pittsburgh Steelers first round pick Devin Bush, New England Patriots second-rounder Josh Uche, Cameron McGrone, Khaleke Hudson and Jordan Glasgow.
• As the linebackers coach at Hope, the Flying Dutchmen led the MIAA in scoring defense (14.5 points per game) and ranked No. 2 in total defense (291.7 yards per game) in 2021. Senior linebacker Jeremiah Purnell collected second-team all-conference accolades under Ross' tutelage.
• Ross and his wife, Omni, are both from The Metropolitan Detroit area. They have two sons, Jayce and Jax.
Postgame Press Conference: Football at Rice
Saturday, September 06
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. Stephen F. Austin
Friday, August 29
Press Conference: Head Coach Willie Fritz Previews SFA
Monday, August 25
Camp Availability: Head Coach Willie Fritz
Monday, August 04
