Clifford Ross embarked on a remarkable coaching career spanning over three decades, from 1949 to 1981, before being posthumously inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2003. Ross's career commenced at Escambia County Training School in Atmore, AL, where he showcased his early coaching prowess in basketball and football between 1949 and 1950. Transitioning to Tennessee, Ross furthered his career at Hale High School in Maryville from 1950 to 1952, focusing on basketball, before moving to Vine Junior High School in Knoxville, where he led the basketball, track & field, and football teams until 1969.

Ross's legendary status was cemented at Austin-East High School from 1970 to 1981, where he not only served as the athletic director but also led the basketball team to an impressive record of 268 wins and 66 losses. Under his leadership, the team secured the prestigious TSSAA AAA State Championship in 1977, marking a pinnacle of high school sports excellence in Tennessee. This period also saw Ross contributing to the broader sports community through multiple roles, including coaching basketball, track & field, and tennis at Knoxville College.

Ross's contributions to the athletic community earned him numerous accolades, including inductions into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, the Knoxville College Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Knoxville Interscholastic Hall of Fame in 1998. Recognized as Coach of the Year multiple times across different associations, Ross's legacy was further honored through the naming of the Austin-East High School Gymnasium in his honor in 1980, underscoring the profound impact he had on the students and the wider sports community.

His life, unfortunately, concluded on February 4, 2005, but his legacy endures, especially highlighted by his induction into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2003, celebrating his dedicated service and significant contributions to high school sports in Tennessee.

TSSAA Hall of Fame
Class: 2003
Category: Coach