Ross Needham begins his 13th season as an assistant wrestling coach at UW-La Crosse in 2022-23, including his 11th as the head assistant coach. He also serves as an instructor in the exercise sport science department.
Needham was named the 2014-15 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping lead UWL to a third-place finish in the regional championship. The Eagles advanced five wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Championships with two earning regional titles.
UWL has finished in the top-eight four years at the national championships in Needham's tenure, placing third in 2010-11 and fourth in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The Eagles were sixth in 2015-16, seventh in 2017-18 and eighth in 2014-15. A total of 36 wrestlers have earned NCAA III All-America honors in the last 12 seasons (the 2020 and 2021 national championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat).
The Eagles have won seven (2011, 2017-22) Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships in the last 12 years, including six straight. UWL has won 44 individual league titles in Needham's time as an assistant coach. UWL has earned the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award from 2018-22.
Needham came to UWL after serving as the head wrestling coach at Holmen (Wis.) High School from 2007-10. The Vikings went 30-11 in duals under Needham and advanced to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Tournament in 2010. Holmen had eight state qualifiers during Needham’s tenure.
He also taught math and coached football at Holmen Middle School.
A 2007 graduate of UWL with a bachelor’s degree in elementary and middle level education and minor in mathematics, Needham earned two NCAA III All-America wrestling honors for the Eagles. He placed third in 2006 and fourth in 2007 at 157-pounds. Needham was also a national qualifier in 2005.
He won three 157-pound titles at the WIAC championships (2005, 2006, 2007) and finished his career with a record of 109-41. Needham is tied for 12th in school history in victories.
Named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-America Team four times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), Needham was a state champion at Marshfield (Wis.) High School.
