Lindenwood Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brad Wachler announced today that football head coach Patrick Ross will not be retained for next season.
 
"I would like to thank Patrick Ross for his service to Lindenwood University and its athletics department for the last 13 years," said Wachler. "Patrick is a man of great character and cares deeply about the student-athletes that he has coached over the years. However, Lindenwood has not progressed like we expected at the NCAA level, and we feel that a change in leadership is needed in order to compete with the top level programs of the MIAA."
 
Ross is the winningest football coach in program history, with a 93-57 overall record at Lindenwood. He inherited a program in 2004 that won just 11 games from 2000-2003. In his first season, Ross led the Lions to an 11-0 regular season mark, a HAAC Championships, and a spot in the postseason. 
 
From 2007-2010, Lindenwood went 43-7, won two more HAAC Championships, and advanced to the playoffs all four years, including a trip to the 2009 NAIA Football Championship game.
 
However, since their transition to NCAA Division II, the Lions have struggled with an 11-31 record over the past four seasons, and never finished higher than eighth in the MIAA conference standings. This past season, the Lions finished with a 3-8 record.
 
The coaching move is effective immediately, and Wachler will lead a national search for a new head coach.