Ross leaving Jacobs athletic director post

Jacobs Athletic Director Tom Ross will step down from his position effective June 30, he announced in an email to his coaches Wednesday.

Ross is leaving to become the principal at Westwood Elementary School in Woodstock. Before he was hired in March of 2007 to replace Mike Cain at Jacobs, Ross spent three years as principal of Lincoln Prairie Elementary School in Lake in the Hills. Prior to that he was an elementary school principal in Rolling Meadows.

“It’s kind of a return to what I was doing,” Ross said Wednesday evening. “It’s a decision that I think is best for my family right now. I still have a daughter that’s in sixth grade and she’s always asked me to coach in sports, which I did for my older two children. With the athletic director role, I’ve just been unable to do that.

“Plus, I honestly miss the role of being a building principal, especially at the elementary level.”

Asked if his decision was related in any way to the financial situation in District 300, Ross replied, “You always have to look at what’s best for your family.”

During his tenure as athletic director at Jacobs, Ross oversaw the opening of a new gymnasium and was responsible for the hiring of current coaches Bill Mitz (football), Erik Kehoe (baseball) and A.J. Cappello (girls and boys soccer), among others.

“Tom and (District 300 superintendent) Mike Bregy were the guys who hired me,” Mitz said. “I’m sad to see Tom leave. He’s all about our kids. He worked hard for the student-athletes at Jacobs High School. He’s just a tireless, hard-working man, and I have come to have nothing but the utmost respect for him in the short time I’ve been with him.

“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do here with the football program. He’ll always be a part of what we achieve and he’ll always be welcome on my sideline.”

Ross was a near permanent fixture on the Algonquin campus during the school’s annual, five-day boys basketball holiday tournament each December.

“I’m sad for myself but I’m thrilled to death for him,” Jacobs basketball coach Jim Hinkle said. “He will be hard to replace. He was really outstanding to work with. Tom was willing to dig in and help out, not just oversee. He helped get the job done

“And he was always straightforward. He was not about the show. He was about the go.”

Ross will remain athletic director at Jacobs until his contract expires on June 30.