Brought in as an assistant coach for 2023, Damien Ross is familiar with Otsego’s program and excited to take over the top spot. “I'm excited for this opportunity to not only lead the players as athletes but hopefully instill some qualities that'll make them good young men as well,” Ross says.

Ross grew up in South Haven and played football for Siena Heights. He has years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate level. He served as a graduate assistant coach at Midland University in Fremont, NE then an Assistant Coach (wide receiver) at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL, Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO, Northwood University and Valparaiso University in IN. For high school, he was the head coach in Bangor from 2017-19 and joined Otsego High School as an assistant coach last year under Scott McDougall who is taking the head football coaching position in Greenville in the fall. 

Ross has a sports management degree and masters in business. He’s currently working at Northwestern Middle School in Battle Creek. Ross has also taken some time to visit OHS during lunches recently to talk with the players. “Bonding with them in the past year has really been a pleasure. Also the coaching staff, they are just good genuine guys.” He’s excited to build upon the players’ desire to win. “The ‘want to’ of the players. They want to be good and have really shown that from the second half of the season through the off season. They want to be a good team so I’m looking forward to pushing them to do that.”

“Being able to observe him last year on staff he quickly developed relationships with the players,” says Otsego Athletic Director, John Kubiak. “He was good with the athletes in individual, group and team settings. He is organized and coaches with patience but does not lack enthusiasm. He has a passion for the game of football and the Otsego football program.”