Syracuse softball head coach Leigh Ross is learning something every day. Whether it is learning how to run a practice on the Carrier Dome turf, determining the strengths and weaknesses of her team or uncovering how to motivate her players, the first-year coach is adjusting to life as a softball coach at SU.

What her players are learning is that a practice with Ross is anything but dull.

‘Practices are a lot more fast-paced and we get a lot more done,’ senior third baseman Erin Gray said. ‘What sticks out is her enthusiasm and the heart she puts into coaching.’

Last spring, Ross became just the second coach in the eight-year history of the Orange softball program, replacing Mary Jo Firnbach, who accepted a job as associate head coach at Texas A&M. Ross hopes her enthusiastic style and optimistic nature will lead to the same sort of success the head coach enjoyed at Bowling Green.

‘I’m very enthusiastic and real positive,’ Ross said. ‘I love playing this game and I kind of let that show. At practice we work very hard but we also have fun.’

This weekend, the Orange travels to Miami to play in the Adidas-Golden Panther Invitational, hosted by Florida International. SU will take on Marist, Purdue, Texas State and No. 8 Stanford.

That positive style Ross exhibits proved to be successful during her eight-year stint at Bowling Green. The former Falcons’ head coach compiled 237 wins, making her the winningest softball coach in school history. She earned Mid-American Conference coach of the year honors in 2001 after she lead the Falcons to a 19-5 conference record.

Ross is eager to embrace the challenge that comes with joining a school in a power conference.

‘I’ve always kind of dreamt of playing beyond my conference and I think the Big East gives me that opportunity,’ Ross said. ‘My goal is to be up in the top four (in the conference). I know that is going to take time to happen.’

Ross has inherited an inexperienced team that currently features only three healthy upperclassmen. Though coming off a successful 2006 campaign that saw SU finish 36-21 and 15-7 in Big East play, the Orange must endure the loss of last year’s All-American and Big East MVP Alexis Switenko. SU also is playing without top pitcher Erin Downey, who is injured. All these factors would seem to indicate an uphill battle for Ross in her first season. Those suspicions were strengthened last weekend at the Kajikawa Classic, where the Orange went 0-5 and was outscored, 53-8.

‘Being at the same place for 10 years, all the players there are players you have recruited,’ Ross said. ‘You know their personalities, how to motivate them, what to expect when you come to practice everyday. It’s definitely been a learning process here.’

Luckily for SU, resiliency has been a trademark of Ross-coached teams. The coach’s greatest accomplishment at Bowling Green came in 2004. Ross’ Falcons, who finished just 13-11 in conference play and in third place in the MAC West division that season, lost their first game of the 2004 MAC tournament to Western Michigan. Rather than fold, Bowling Green improbably won its next five games of the double-elimination tournament to win the MAC and earn an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. Of those five wins, four came against the conferences top four seeds that season.

‘It wasn’t great because of a trophy or making it to (NCAA) Regionals,’ Ross said. ‘The spirit that was there – the spirit of competition that the girls had that weekend was a huge accomplishment for me because it showed them that they can do anything.’

Ross is banking on that resiliency translating to the Orange this season. The new head coach hopes that with time and experience, her young squad will adapt to her enthusiastic demeanor and style of play.

Offensively, Ross is not afraid to manufacture runs – not surprising considering the former outfielder led the nation in stolen bases per game (0.83) as a second team All-American at Toledo in 1991.

‘I like trying to scrape together a run here or there in a tight game,’ Ross said. ‘I like to run, the element of surprise, hit and runs, fake bunt slaps. I like to mix it up.’

Ross is aware that it may take time for the Orange to adjust to her style and gain experience. In the meantime, it is the coach’s upbeat attitude and sincerity that has captured at least the respect of her players.

‘She is very approachable,’ Gray said. ‘You can tell just how much she cares about each individual player and she shows that.’

Published on February 22, 2007 at 12:00 pm