Ralph Ross Sr. is many things, but when it comes to wrestling accomplishments he is simply a legend. And that is why he has entered the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

As a high school coach he won more than 600 matches. He has been a school administrator, has won numerous awards and even has a high school athletics complex named after him.

A 1963 graduate of Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) Ross began his coaching career at Triton Red High School. The team was 1-5. In the 35 seasons that followed he never had a losing record.

Taking the job at Highland High School he would go on to post a record of 601-75-8. Only four New Jersey high school coaches have won more.

He would coach seven individual state champions, 37 Region champions and 140 District champions. His teams won holiday tournaments Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and Florida. His teams won 20 Olympic Conference titles, 20 District titles, 13 South Jersey titles, 10 Group titles and four State titles.

Accolades include a District Coach of the Year, South Jersey Wrestling Coach of the Year, Star-Ledger Coach of the Decade, and in 2000 was named Coach of the Century by the Courier-Post.

Other honors include the NAACP President’s Award, entry into the Camden County Hall of Fame, South Jersey Hall of Fame and Highland Regional Hall of Fame. Before his retirement the Board of Education named the Timber Creek football stadium and gymnasium the Ralph E. Ross Athletic Complex.

After retiring from the Black Horse Pike Regional School District in 2010 he was appointed Interim Superintendent of Schools at Deptford Township, then ended his career as Interim Superintendent of Schools in the Monroe Township School District in 2019.

Ross and his wife reside in Sewell. They have four grown children: Lynn; Sandra; Sharon; Ralph Jr., and eight grandchildren.