Rob Ambrose was born and raised in Frederick County, where he achieved success playing football at Middletown High School. He went on to play at Towson University, graduating in 1993. After completing his playing days at Towson, Ambrose began his college football coaching career as the Tigers wide receiver coach. By 1997 he was the Offensive Coordinator at Towson, and later, from 2005 to 2009, held the same position at the University of Connecticut. The 2007 Husky team was Big East co- champions. Ambrose returned to his alma mater as head football coach in 2010, and his Tigers team was CAA Conference champions in 2011 and 2012. In 2011 he received the Eddie Robinson Award, presented to the Football Championship Subdivision National Coach of the Year.