Georgetown University Athletics

Georgetown University Francis X. Rienzo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed has named Karla Ross as the new head coach of the softball program. Ross comes to the Hilltop with more than a decade of coaching experience, including five years as a Division I head coach. She brings a knowledge of the region, as well as BIG EAST Conference experience to Georgetown.
 
"I'm excited to announce Karla Ross as our new head softball coach," Reed said. "Karla has a passion for the game, and we are excited to see where she can take this program in its next chapter. We welcome Karla and her family into the Georgetown community, and look forward to the positive impact she will make in the lives of our student-athletes."
 
Ross comes to Georgetown from DePaul University where she served as the associate head coach for one season. With the Blue Demons, Ross coached one NFCA First Team All-Region Great Lakes honoree as well as five College Sports Communicators All-Academic selections.
 
Prior to her stop at DePaul, Ross spent four playing seasons as the head softball coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In 2022, Ross led the Hawks to their first postseason berth since 2009, earning the No. 4 seed in the MEAC tournament. The Hawks had the MEAC Player of the Year and three players named All-MEAC, while Ross was also named MEAC Coach of the Year. The following season, UMES qualified for the postseason tournament and notched the program’s first postseason victory.
 
As a head coach, Ross boasted an NFCA Top 10 Rookie of the Year, an NFCA All Mid-Atlantic Second Team honoree, seven All-MEAC selections and the 2022 MEAC Rookie of the year. She was also the 2022 MEAC Coach of the Year. In the classroom, her players achieved 17 NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete winners, 43 MEAC All-Academic Team members and five CSC Academic All-District Team honorees. 
 
Ross has previous stops at George Mason, Florida Southwestern State College (NJCAA), St. Johns River State College and George Washington.
 
While at Florida Southwestern State, Ross helped the team reach an overall record of 172-28 in three seasons, winning three Suncoast Coast Conference Championships. The team also led the nation in stolen bases (274) in 2016. In her time at St. John’s River, the team improved from 17-31 the previous season to 32-22.
 
Ross played softball at Wisconsin and graduated in 2013. The Ashburn, Va. native was named All-Big Ten First Team in 2011 with a .313 average and 31 RBI, 10 doubles and 19 runs scored. In 2012, she was named to the Big Ten Third Team and completed her career with a .286 average, 51 runs scored and 71 RBI in 190 games.
 
Ross and her husband Brad live in Virginia with their son Karter.
 
“I would first like to thank Lee Reed, Kelli Myers and Al Lattell for giving me this opportunity to become the next head softball coach at Georgetown University,” said Ross. “As a native of Ashburn, Virginia, I’m still taking it all in, this is the epitome of a full-circle moment in my career.  I have always dreamed of an opportunity to be back home, close to my family and develop and grow the softball program of one of the most prestigious universities in the country. I am committed to building a winning culture both in the classroom and on the field.”