Larry Ross

Coach Larry Ross was equally at home coaching on the high school level as he was the AAU circuit. He founded the Forest City Heat AAU program in 1998, winning several prestigious tournaments, including a National Championship. During that time, he also coached the East Rutherford Lady Cavaliers for 20 years, picking up approximately 400 wins in the process.

Ross was a 1978 graduate of East Rutherford High School and went on to play basketball for the Isothermal Community College Patriots. While at ICC, Ross set the record for the most rebounds in a single game with 15 vs. Davidson during the 1979-80 season.

As good as an athlete as Coach Ross was, he made his name as a coach. He founded the Forest City Heat Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) program in 1998 and it is still going strong today. He won State and National Championships at multiple age groups. Ross garnered 14 State Titles, including eight straight AAU State Titles from 2012-2019. In 2015, Ross and the Heat brought home the State Title in seven different age groups. Ross’ most impressive achievement on the AAU circuit may have come in 2019 as the Heat brought a National Championship back home to Forest City. Along the way in his AAU coaching career, Ross oversaw the development of numerous professional and college players. They include former NFL player Brandon Spikes, current NBA player Ish Smith, along with former Clemson Tiger Gabe Devoe and Georgetown’s LJ Peak. Due to his impact on those athletes and countless others, Ross was elected to the AAU Hall of Fame in 2024.

As impressive as Ross’ accomplishments on the AAU level were, his accolades coaching the Lady Cavaliers might have been more impressive. Over a 20 year career in Forest City, Ross led the Lady Cavs to approximately 400 wins. Those numbers included numerous conference titles and deep playoff runs, making the 2006 State Championship game. East Rutherford went 27-1 in 2021-22 and 23-3 during the 2013-14 season. Rachel Camp was the star of the 2013-14 team. Under Ross’ tutelage, she averaged 28.4 points per game that season and scored over 3,000 points in her career.

“He pushed me for sure,” Camp said in an interview with The Daily Courier. “But I knew that was just because he cared about me and wanted me to reach my full potential.” In addition, Ross also coached the East Rutherford boys team for a few seasons.

Due to Ross’ success during his career and the impacts he made off the court, he won the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Transformational Coach of the Year Award in 2022. According to the NCBCA, the award is given each year to a coach that “must have a significant positive impact at their school and with their community.”

“This means a lot,” Ross told The Daily Courier after receiving the award. “I have won national championships coaching AAU teams but this award is right there at the top of the list. What makes this so special is that it shows that something you have done has impacted somebody’s life. It’s not about me and if I know I have made a positive impact on somebody, that means more to me than winning ballgames.”

Several of his former players spoke about the impact Ross made on their lives. NC State signee Mikey Wilkins says, “His legacy meant everything. He was like a second father to me.”

Former University of South Carolina Wide Receiver Shaq Davidson adds: “Coach is an understatement of what you (Ross) were to me. After I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life, you took me in and helped turn it around for the better. I could never repay you.” Ross passed away on April 10th 2023, but his legacy lives on as the former Cool Springs Gym was renamed in his honor.