SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State head gymnastics coach Sarah Brown has announced the hiring of associate head coach Ralph Rosso, who joins the Bobcats after serving as Brown's associate head coach at Penn State.

The addition of Rosso also comes on the heels of Lynnzee Brown joining the staff, making the 2027 season the fifth together for the trio.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome Ralph to Texas State," Sarah Brown said. "With over a decade of elite collegiate experience at some of the nation's top programs, Ralph brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of developing athletes both in and out of the gym. What truly sets him apart is his incredible ability to connect with student-athletes in a positive, meaningful way.

"I have had the pleasure of working with Ralph over the last five seasons and his partnership in building this program will be essential to our success. He is an exceptional addition to our staff, and I know he will be instrumental in building the future of Texas State gymnastics."

Rosso spent six seasons with the Nittany Lions, including his final two as the program's associate head coach, mentoring student-athletes on vault and uneven bars.

"I am excited to join the inaugural team at Texas State," said Rosso. "It is a true honor to align with Sarah Brown once again—I know firsthand that she is a fearless leader who executes with relentless integrity. I look forward to recruiting aggressively across Texas and nationwide to help build a championship-caliber program our fans and alumni will be deeply proud to call their own."

During his time at Penn State, Rosso helped both his event squads reach some of the highest marks in program history. In 2026, Penn State's bars unit posted a 49.243 NQS and recorded three scores of 49.375 or better, including the third-, fifth- and sixth-highest bars scores in program history. The group also produced 14 individual scores of 9.900 or better, including a pair of 9.950s.

Rosso's work on vault and bars helped Penn State reach the NCAA Regionals in 2025, and in 2024, four Nittany Lions recorded season-best vault scores of 9.900 or better, while three reached that mark on bars. The bars team posted a 49.375 at the NCAA Regional Final, ranking fourth in program history and marking the program's best score on the apparatus since 2018. Penn State's vault group finished No. 21 nationally.

Following the 2024 season, Rosso and the Penn State assistant coaching staff were recognized as the WCGA North East Region Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year.

Rosso also helped guide Penn State to significant success during the 2023 season. Cassidy Rushlow and Piedrahita qualified for the NCAA Championships, with Piedrahita earning Postseason All-America honors on vault as a freshman. Rushlow recorded a 9.975 on bars, tying for second in program history, while the Nittany Lions posted a 49.350 on bars at Auburn, tying the eighth-highest total in school history.

In 2022, Rosso took over Penn State's bars squad after it ranked 19th nationally and second in the Northeast Region, while also helping lead the Nittany Lions' vault team. Penn State recorded a score of 49.000 or better on bars in all but two meets that season, finishing 21st nationally on the apparatus, while Rosso also helped the vault squad post six scores of 49.000 or higher and finish 35th nationally.

Rosso joined Penn State after four seasons at Washington, including serving as the program's interim head coach in 2021. During his tenure with the Huskies, Washington made an NCAA Championships appearance in 2018 and established itself among the nation's top programs on bars. In 2020, the GymDawgs finished 12th nationally on the event, their highest finish since 2004, while the team earned All-America and All-Pac-12 honors on bars. In 2019, Penn State finished 13th in the country on bars.

Washington finished the 2018 regular season ranked eighth nationally, the highest regular-season ranking in program history at the time, and advanced to NCAA Nationals. Rosso also helped the Huskies post four scores of 197 or higher that season, tying a program record.

Before Washington, Rosso spent one season at George Washington, helping the Colonials win the East Atlantic Gymnastics League championship and advance to the NCAA Regionals in 2017. The program produced its first NCAA Regional individual champion, while eight gymnasts earned All-EAGL honors.

Rosso began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Michigan (2009-11), with additional stops at Arkansas (2011-13) and Western Michigan (2013-14), before earning an assistant position at Arizona State (2014-16), where he helped develop nine Academic All-Pac-12 gymnasts, three All-Pac-12 selections and five NCAA qualifiers, including an individual regional champion.

A four-year letterwinner at Michigan from 2006-09, Rosso was a key contributor to the Wolverines' Big Ten championship as a senior. He competed at the NCAA Championships each season of his collegiate career, earning a ninth-place finish on still rings in 2007. That same year, Rosso advanced to the Big Ten finals on both pommel horse and rings before returning to the conference finals in 2009 on rings and floor exercise.
 
Rosso earned his bachelor's degree in general studies from Michigan in 2009 before receiving his master's degree in recreation and sports management from Arkansas in 2013.