Military man

67-year-old Ross takes on latest project: 0-13 Army

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) -- Bobby Ross was hired as Army's coach Tuesday, returning to football after resigning as the Detroit Lions' coach three years ago.

He takes over a team that became the first in NCAA history to finish 0-13 after losing to Navy 34-6 on Saturday.

The academy fired coach Todd Berry in October with the team 5-35 in his four seasons. John Mumford acted as interim coach, going 0-7 after replacing Berry.

"Bobby Ross is highly qualified. His reputation as a coach speaks for itself," Army superintendent William Lennox Jr. said. "We are very confident that he has what it takes to restore a winning tradition to Army football."

Ross said the spirit of West Point attracted him. He served in the Army and one of his sons graduated from the Naval Academy and another graduated from the Air Force Academy.

"From my very youth, right up until the present time, I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for West Point and what it's stood for. ... I think it represents college football in its purest form," Ross said in a statement.

Ross, who turns 67 this month, hasn't coached since 2000, when he quit the Lions after nine games. He led the San Diego Chargers to their only Super Bowl appearance in 1995, a 49-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His NFL record was 77-68.

Ross, a Virginia Military Institute graduate, spent 15 years as a college coach, including stints with The Citadel (1973-77), Maryland (1982-86) and Georgia Tech (1987-91). His 1990 Georgia Tech team went 11-0-1, sharing the national title with Colorado. His college record was 94-76-2.

Ross was hired after former Nebraska coach Frank Solich turned down the job.