Marty Gross, in his second season at Texas A & M-Corpus Christi and 36th collegiate season overall, is one of the most highly respected assistant coaches in the country.  Gross reunites with head coach, Willis Wilson, after four seasons at WSU.  At Wichita State, Gross was instrumental in helping the Shockers win the 2011 NIT Championship and post a school record single season win total of 29 wins.  Gross spent 4 years at Wichita State, 17 years at Rice University, 9 years at Jacksonville University (FL), and 4 years at Birmingham Southern College (AL).

Gross began his collegiate coaching career at Birmingham-Southern College upon graduating from Jacksonville in 1977. During his four years in Birmingham, the Panthers were 103-27, captured three-consecutive Southern States Conference championships, competed in two national tournaments and achieved a national ranking as high as second in the NAIA polls.

In addition to Birmingham Southern College, Gross also coached at his alma mater, Jacksonville University (FL). His first stint at Jacksonville was from 1981 to 1983. Gross then returned to Jacksonville in 1985 and spent the next seven years at the campus, including three seasons as the school¹s associate head coach.

Gross has been instrumental in helping cultivate the careers of 44 pros, including 21 from Rice, 8 from Jacksonville, 2 from Birmingham Southern College and 13 from WSU.

In 1985-86, the Dolphins were 21-10, won the Sun Belt Conference Championship and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. In 1986-87, the Dolphins were 19-11 and received an NIT postseason bid.

At Rice, Gross coordinated recruiting and was involved extensively in all areas of the day-to-day operations of the men¹s basketball program, including fund-raising, player development, community outreach, scouting, and a daily practice focus on team defense.  At Rice, Gross helped develop 21 pros including NBA players Morris Almond (2007 First Round Utah Jazz), Mike Harris (Houston Rockets), and Mike Wilkes (Orlando, Memphis, Milwaukee, Houston, San Antonio, Seattle), and Brent Scott (Indiana Pacers).

While at Jacksonville, Gross teamed with former New Jersey Nets coach and current television color commentator Bob Wenzel, helping nurture the careers of six Dolphins selected in the NBA draft.  Some of the more notable players include 1986 second-round pick (Denver) and current Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith, 1987 first-round pick Ronnie Murphy (Portland), 1990 first-round selection and NBA Slam Dunk Champion Dee Brown (Boston) and 1992 second-round pick Tim Burroughs (Minnesota).

As a college player, Gross was a four-year letterman for Jacksonville University (FL), serving as the team’s co-captain as a senior in 1977. He also played on the 1974 Jacksonville NIT team, which featured four NBA draft selections.

He received a B.S. in management from Jacksonville in 1977 and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) in 1979.

Gross is a native of Yankton, South Dakota, where he was an all-state basketball player as a senior in 1973. He is a member of the Yankton Senior High School Hall of Fame, NABC, Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC), Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA), and Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.

Gross is married to Mary Pat Nelson, a native of Beaumont, TX.

Gross Coached Players in the Pros:

Shockers in the Pros

• Gal Mekel 6-3, 2008
• Phillip Thomasson 6-6 Forward, 2008
• PJ Cousinard 6-4 Guard, 2008
• Ramon Clemente    6-6, 2009
• Mantas Griskenas 6-7, 2009
• Clevin Hannah 5-11, 2010
• Aaron Ellis 6-9, 2011
• JT Durley 6-8, 2011
• Gabe Blair 6-8, 2011
• Garrett Stutz 7-0, 2012
• Joe Ragland 6-0, 2012
• David Kyles 6-3, 2012
• Toure’ Murry 6-5, 2012

Owls in the Pros

• Brent Scott, Center, 1992 (Indiana Pacers)
• Marvin Moore, Guard, 1993
• David Holmes, Guard, 1993
• Adam Peakes, Guard, 1995
• Tommy McGhee, Guard, 1996
• J.J. Polk, Guard, 1997
• Shaun Igo, Center, 1997
• Jarvis Kelly Sanni, Forward, 1998
• Robert Johnson, Guard, 1999
• Jason Skaer, Forward, 1999
• Alex Bougaieff, Center, 2000
• Erik Cooper, Forward, 2001
• Mike Wilks, Guard, 2001 (Orlando, Memphis, Milwaukee, Houston, San Antonio, Seattle)
• T.J. McKenzie, Center, 2002
• Yamar Diene, Center, 2004
• Jason McKrieth, Guard, 2005
• Michael Harris, Forward, 2005 (Washington Wizards)
• Brock Gillespie, Guard, 2005
• Morris Almond, Guard, 2007 (Utah First Round)

Dolphins in the Pros

• Mike Hackett 1982 (LA Lakers third round)
• Otis Smith 1986 (Denver Nuggets first round)
• Danny Pearson 1987 (Washington Bullets seventh round)
• Ronnie Murphy 1987 (Portland Trailblazers first round)
• Willie McDuffie 1987 (CBA)
• Dee Brown 1990 first round (Boston Celtics first round)
• NBA Slam Dunk Champion
• Tim Burroughs 1992 (Minnesota Timberwolves second round)

Panthers in the Pros

• Jay Higginbotham 6-5 Guard 1981
• James Harmon 6-7 Forward 1982