NDSU assistant soccer coach John Ross, considered the front runner to take over for departed head coach Pete Cuadrado, was named the head coach at Northern Illinois on Tuesday.
Ross spent nine years at NDSU under Cuadrado, who took the head position at Wyoming last week. Ross, who is from Illinois graduating from Northeastern Illinois University, was the goalkeepers coach and associate head coach for the Bison. His move means he will also be closer to family
He takes over the NIU program from Carrie Baker, who was fired.
It’s an unfortunate move for NDSU, especially with signing day next Wednesday. The Bison got a verbal commitment from one of the better players in the country, Lauren Miller of St. Louis Park, Minn. We’ll see what happens with that.
The soccer program is heading in the right direction. Hopefully the Bison can hire a great new coach and continue the march to the NCAA Tournament with a win in the tournament.
I sure hope the recruits stay committed to NDSU.
Obviously getting Lauren Miller from MSA was Dorn’s #1 goal so she hired Miller’s club coach at $63000. Pete was getting less than $60000, had been there 9 years, a Masters degree and more COLLEGE coaching experience. What is Dorn thinking?
Heading in the right direction? Two coaches abruptly leave for inferior programs just as National Signing Day is on the horizon. And the (women’s) AD hires someone ineptly qualified for MORE money than the incumbent. The “right direction”? umm….. ok, then.
Inferior? Have you seen the facilities tour at Wyoming – which is in the MOUNTAIN WEST conference with all Division 1A bowl elligible teams? MWC (TCU) won the Rose Bowl in 2011. Inferior? You been in ND too long. Just because NDSU won the FCS doesn’t make NDSU a contender against a true D1 school. Also check out the athletic budgets for NIU and WYO. John got a 6 year contract for a LOT more than he would have been paid at NDSU. Pete got a LOT more money at WYO and neither have to put up with Dorn who said “John was second to none”. If Dorn meant that why didn’t she hire John? Just sayin…
Now Christie Chappell is gone as well. Followed John to Northern Illinois, wow! All three full time coaches have left the program, with the program headed in the right direction why has Dorn not tried to keep anyone. The salary thing is mind boggling, why not pay Pete. Why not John or Christie????? Dorn stuck her neck out on this one, stay tuned!
On Bisonville, there’s already excuses being made for Cook to have a poor 1st season. 10 seniors graduating, not much experience in Jr. class, mostly Soph & Freshmen. Also signing day dinner always included Pete and a briefing on soccer signing day. On Bison.com there’s only mention of Football coaches at the dinner. After very pointed questions about Cook’s experience at the press conference, is Dorn not willing to throw Cook in front of the Herd? Pete, John and Christie worked very hard. They (and their families) made sacrifices to elevate the NDSU soccer to a respected competitive D1 program. Dorn demoted it to what now is looked at among D1 schools as a elite club program. Let’s just wish Pete, John and Christie best wishes and congratulations on their new opportunities. After all the issues brought up about Dorn who seems to be completelhy out of touch with Division 1 women’s athletics, it’s no wonder they accepted jobs elsewhere.