Ross began his college coaching career at Ohio University where he guided the club team for one season.
Ross' tenure saw UAH make three straight appearances in the club hockey national Championship final between 1982 and 1985, winning two (1982–83, 1983–84).
The club's sustained success saw them make the jump from club to NAIA for the '85-'86 season, NCAA Division II in '86-'87, then finally moving to Division I as an independent university for the first time before the '87-'88 season.
UAH would spend the next six seasons in Division II and rediscovered their form; earning a .722 win percentage over a period of six seasons and claiming the Division II National Championship twice and appearing in the finals two other times.
Doug Ross retired from coaching college hockey the following summer and was succeeded by Danton Cole.