In the world of Chester County sports, Ross “The Silver Fox” Kershey set the gold standard.
Kershey graduated from Dunbar Township High School in southwestern Pennsylvania before attending Temple University, where he played basketball for legendary Hall of Fame coach Harry Litwack. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple, Kershey went on to receive a teaching certification from Indiana University of Pennsylvania after working as a student teacher at Greensburg High School.
Kershey began his long and illustrious teaching and coaching career at Coatesville High School in 1956. In addition to a 42-year career as an American history teacher, Kershey was the head basketball coach of the Red Raiders for 28 years and the head track coach for 14 years.
Best known for his success as head coach of the Red Raiders’ basketball team, Kershey compiled a record of 462-129 (.782) for his career. He won 12 Ches-Mont League championships and one District 1 title, while coaching a bevy of hoops stars. His first varsity team at Coatesville included future LaSalle All-American Hubie Marshall, and his last was headlined by current Detroit Piston captain and 11-year NBA veteran Richard “Rip” Hamilton, an inaugural inductee into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Despite his winning ways on the hardwood, Kershey may have been even more successful as Coatesville’s track coach. In his 14-year career, “The Silver Fox” finished with a final record of 103 wins and just a single loss in dual meets. Kershey’s teams won 13 Ches-Mont League championships, 14 league relay crowns, 2 district titles, and a state championship to boot. Kershey coached 10 individual state track champions and his 1974 Red Raiders squad won the Eastern United States track championships.
“The Silver Fox” was praised for his extensive accomplishments during his coaching career, and recognized after it. After retiring, Kershey was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Hall of Fame, and the basketball facility at Coatesville is now named the Ross Kershey Gymnasium. Still, Kershey always preferred to be thought of as an educator first. He was the first teacher at Coatesville to receive the Educator of the Year award, an honor that was named for him upon his retirement.
Kershey has left the coaching arena, but he remains in education to this day. He is now in his sixth year of teaching at Widener University. He’s been married to his wife, Sally, for 55 years, and the couple has a son named Scott, who is also involved with Coatesville athletics.
