Bill Ross was born in Toronto, but became a US citizen in 1954. He played in college at Southern Cal, graduating in 1955. His college career was interrupted by service in the US Navy during the Korean War. He earned All-America honors as a swimmer for Southern Cal in 1950-51. Ross played for the Southern California Water Polo Club and helped them win the 1952 AAU outdoor title and the 1957 indoor title. He played for the US on the Mid-Ocean Team that won the title in Bermuda in 1953 and also won a silver medal at the 1955 Pan American Games. Ross was inducted into the US Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1983.