Josh Gross was announced as a men's basketball assistant coach on May 18, 2022. The 2022-23 season marks his first with the program. Gross joins the Phoenix after spending last season as the head coach at Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte).
Gross led the Wildcats to the 2022 USCAA Division II National Championship game, compiling a record of 17-12 in the 2021-22 season. Under Gross's leadership, Anthony Rey earned USCAA First Team All-American honors and was selected to the USCAA All-Academic Team. Additionally, Jaylen Dibble and DeAndre Williams were each named to the USCAA All-Academic Team.
Prior to JWU, Gross served as an assistant coach Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders recently captured the Conference Carolinas postseason tournament title and were the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. It was Gross's second stint at Belmont Abbey, having also previously been an assistant coach in the 2017-18 season.
Before Belmont Abbey, Gross spent two seasons as the head coach at Gaston Christian School from 2018-20. He guided the Eagles to an NCISAA Elite 8 appearance, and had multiple players selected to the all-conference team. He also coached at J.M. Robinson High School in Concord and was part of a South Piedmont Conference championship team that advanced to the NCHSAA Sweet 16.
Gross, a native of Washington, D.C., is no stranger to the court as a player, either. He played collegiately at UNC Greensboro from 2001-05, where he ranks 20th on the school's all-time rebounding list with 431. He also led the Spartans in field goal percentage in 2002-03 (.520). He furthered his playing career after graduation by participating in the NBA's D-League. He played for several D-League teams including Austin, Albuquerque, Florida, and Los Angeles. He also played professional basketball internationally in both England and Japan.
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH BILLY TAYLOR
"Josh brings valuable experience to our staff as a former professional basketball player and as a head coach at a variety of levels. Josh is a man of character who will help in the development of our student-athletes. Please join me in welcoming Josh, his wife Faith, and their daughters, Trinity, Jordyn and Hope to Elon."
