Going Out on Top

Carol Ross made it official today as she resigned from the University of Mississippi as the Lady Rebel basketball coach. Many people were in shock and disbelief when this was rumored, due to the success that Ross has had at Ole Miss. Some people rumored there was bad blood between Ross and the administration, but I searched for that and it appears to be nothing but a bunch of internet non sense. What Ross will do in the future, I do not know. What I do know is that Ole Miss is losing a heck of a coach.

Assistant Coach Renee Ladner will take over the head coaching duties. Some in the internet world will complain that Ole Miss do not do a nationwide search for this, but I think it is a good hire. Ladner, an Ole Miss alum, has coached with Ross for the past 6-8 years and learned everything she knows. I think it is a good move for the program.

(SID)OXFORD, Miss. -- In a busy day for Ole Miss Director of Athletics Pete Boone, it was announced here that Carol Ross would resign as the women’s basketball head coach after four successful seasons, while it was also announced that current assistant coach Renee Ladner would be promoted to the position of head coach. Ladner’s appointment is pending approval of the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Upon becoming the fifth head coach in Ole Miss history, Ross set forth to put the winning tradition back into the Rebel program. As her fourth season has come to a close, Ross is stepping out of the role as head coach knowing she has accomplished exactly what she came back to do.

“My responsibilities as head coach of this program were two fold: to give back to Ole Miss and to restore the women’s basketball program to national prominence. Today, I resign as the head women's basketball coach at Ole Miss confident my mission has been completed.”

In her four seasons at the helm of the Rebel program, Ross has taken the Rebels from the doormat of the Southeastern Conference to the upper echelon of the nation’s top conference for women’s basketball.