DeKALB – When new Northern Illinois women’s soccer coach John Ross was asked why he chose to coach the Huskies, the answer to him was simple. It meant more than just the soccer program; it meant he was home.

“I’m very excited about getting back into the Chicagoland area. I’ve got a lot of friends and family here,” said Ross, an Elmhurst native. “The soccer community is unbelievable here, and it’s something that I’ve missed while I was gone.”

Ross, who replaced Carrie Barker, spent the past nine years coaching at North Dakota State University. Ross will take over as coach of the team that ended the 2011 season with a record of 2-15-2.