Bobby Ross's son out as offensive coordinator at Army

2/1/2007 8:42 PM

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) -Newly named Army football coach Stan Brock, who was recommended for the job by the retiring Bobby Ross, won't retain Ross' son Kevin on staff.

``I decided it was important for the program to go in a different direction,'' Brock said in a statement released Thursday. ``I continue to work toward building the best staff possible to lead our cadet-athletes and hope to be in position to announce the makeup of the entire staff shortly.''

Kevin Ross said he was shocked at the decision and that his father also was upset. The decision was made last Saturday - the day Brock accepted the job.

``My dad was under the assumption that I would be staying,'' Kevin Ross told the Times Herald-Record of Middletown.

Bobby Ross announced his retirement on Monday and recommended Brock as his successor. Brock served as Army's offensive line coach under Ross for three years and played for him with the San Diego Chargers from 1993-95.

Bobby Ross, who did not attend the press conference announcing his retirement, was not available for comment about his son. He gave his son his first offensive coordinator job shortly after he accepted the Army head coach position in December 2003.

Kevin Ross, 41, had previously served as running backs coach at the University of Virginia under Al Groh.

With an inexperienced running back, Wesley McMahand, and inexperienced quarterbacks in junior David Pevoto and freshman Carson Williams, Army's offense flopped this past fall.

The Black Knights ranked 70th in the nation out of 119 teams in rushing offense (127.58 yards per game), 90th in scoring offense (19.33 points per game), 112th in total offense (261 yards) and 113th in passing offense (133.4 yards).