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To some, basketball is just a game. For East Rutherford girls' head coach Larry Ross, however, basketball is so much more.
"I don't think it's a stretch to say that without my girls or basketball, I wouldn't be alive today," a tearful Ross said. "I have had some serious health problems over the last few years and I wanted to give up and quit. But all the players (current and former) are so encouraging and basketball has given me a reason to keep going. I can't quit on them. They literally saved my life."
Ross made that revelation as he was awarded the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Transformational Coach of the Year Award on May 31 at East Rutherford High School. According to the NCBCA, the award is given each year to a coach that has had "a significant, positive impact at their school and within their community".
Ross was nominated for the award by East Rutherford Athletic Director Phillip Russ.
"When you look at the criteria for the award, making a positive impact on the community and the school, that perfectly describes Larry Ross," Russ said. "Not only has he done a tremendous job at East Rutherford, but through the Forest City Heat (AAU program), he starts working with kids when they are seven or eight years old and he carries that relationship all the way through high school and beyond."
A humble Ross was surprised by winning the award, preferring to give credit to others.
"This means a lot," he said. "I have won national championships coaching AAU teams but this award is right there at the top of the list. What makes this so special is that it shows that something you have done has impacted somebody's life. It's not about me and if I know I have made a positive impact on somebody, that means more to me than winning ballgames."
Ross joined the East Rutherford staff in 1998 and took over the Lady Cavaliers' program in 2004. During that time, he has won over 400 games and coached many successful players.
"I've had an awesome career, but that's because I have had some really talented players and supportive administration. I could not have done it without them."
One of the most successful players was Rachel Camp who scored over 3,000 points in her career at East Rutherford, averaging 28.4 points per game as a senior in 2014. Camp then earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors the next season while playing for the Virginia Tech Hokies. She is set to join the East Rutherford coaching staff next season.
"Coach Ross definitely deserves this award," Camp said. "He pushed me for sure, but I knew that was just because he cared about me and wanted me to reach my full potential."
While Ross strives to build a strong family atmosphere within his program, he admits that one player has a special place in his heart: Brittany Boyce. Boyce played for Ross from 2004-06, leading the Lady Cavs to the 2006 State Championship game before playing in college at nearby Gardner-Webb University.
"Rachel was the best athlete to play here, but Brittany was the best basketball player," Ross said. "She is like a daughter to me. In fact, she lived with me while she was in high school. I feel like I helped to raise her. All of my players are special, but Brittany has a special place in my heart."
Ross and his Lady Cavaliers are coming off one of their best seasons in school history, posting an undefeated regular season and advancing to the third round of the state playoffs. He wants to add another piece of hardware to his long list of accomplishments next season.
"Our goal is to win a State Championship," he said. "We have very high expectations within our program year in and year out and it puts a target on our back, but at East Rutherford, we don't rebuild, we reload."
