Head Coach Rob Ambrose

Not many people have the passion for Towson University as head coach Rob Ambrose. A former player and assistant coach, Ambrose has used that passion to turn the Tigers into one of the top teams in the FCS. In his first 12 seasons as head coach, Ambrose led the Tigers to six winning seasons, two CAA championships, three playoff appearances and a trip to the 2013 FCS National Championship game. 2019 saw the Tigers earn their second consecutive winning season, being nationally ranked in the top-25 all season long, going as high as No. 5 after a 3-0 start. Towson earned victories over four teams either ranked or receiving votes at the time of the game, including a 45-23 victory over then No. 7 and defending CAA champion Maine in Orono. For the second season in a row, Towson picked up 10 All-CAA selections, including Yeedee Thaenrat being First Team on special teams and Second Team at running back. Towson chose not to play in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2018, Towson returned to the NCAA FCS Playoffs and stood in the top-20 nationally for eight weeks in a row with victories over three then-top-15 programs: Villanova, Stony Brook and Elon. The Tigers finished tied for third in the CAA at 5-3 and 7-5 overall, with all FCS defeats coming against playoff teams. Tom Flacco matched the Towson record with 28 passing touchdowns to earn CAA Offensive Player of the Year while Shane Simpson was the CAA Special Teams Player of the Year. Towson notched 11 All-CAA Honors.

In his third season, Ambrose guided Towson to one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college football history. Only one season removed from a 1-10 record, the 2011 team became the “Turnaround Tigers” by going 9-3. Their improvement was the most dramatic improvement in NCAA Division I history. Towson posted a 9-2 regular season record, beat six nationally-ranked teams and won the CAA championship outright with a 7-1 record. The Tigers also made their first appearance in the FCS playoffs, becoming the first program to earn playoff berths at the Division III, Division II and FCS levels.

After the season, Ambrose was the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, honoring the top coach in the FCS. He was also named the CAA Coach of the Year, AFCA District Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year.

Into the 2012 season, as the Tigers went went 7-4 against a schedule that saw them play at Kent State and LSU during the non-conference play. Towson earned a share of the CAA championship with a 6-2 mark, including a 64-35 victory over New Hampshire in the final game of the season.

The 2013 season was one all Tiger fans will remember. Towson opened the season by going on the road and knocking off Connecticut, 31-18. It marked the first victory over an FBS opponent. Towson would start the season with six-straight victories, and end the regular season with a 10-2 record.

The Tigers began their playoff run with a home victory over No. 9 Fordham, before going on the road to knock off No. 2 Eastern Illinois and No. 3 Eastern Washington. The season came to an end with a loss in the National Championship game, but not before the Tigers won a school-record 13 games. Towson finished the season ranked No. 2 in the polls and won the Lambert/Meadowlands Award as the top FCS team in the East. The Tigers were also honored as the ECAC FCS Team of the Year.

West carried the ball 413 times for 2,509 yards and 41 touchdowns. He finished third in the voting for the Walter Payton Award. West declared for the NFL Draft and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round. West was one of seven Tigers to earn All-America recognition in 2013.

Following the 2014 season, cornerback Tye Smith was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks, while Ryan Delaire was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ambrose returned to Towson after seven years as an assistant coach at Connecticut. During his time in Storrs, Ambrose helped the Huskies to 49 wins, three bowl appearances and a share of the 2007 Big East championship. Ambrose spent the final three seasons at UConn as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Ambrose’s coaching career began where his playing career ended as he joined the Tigers as a wide receivers coach in 1993 after spending the 1992 season as a student assistant. Ambrose took over as the offensive coordinator in 1997, and added the associate head coach title in 2000. In his third season, Ambrose’s offense led the country in passing yardage (381.2 ypg), while his 2000 team saw Noah Read lead the Patriot League in rushing.

Ambrose graduated from Towson in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in English. Ambrose and his wife, Melissa, have two children: Grace and Riley.