Associate head coach Gabe Gross is leaving the Auburn Tigers baseball program for a more general role within AU's athletic department's ecosystem that will still see him adjacent to Butch Thompson's team. The move was announced on Monday.
Gross framed the move as one aimed at maximizing his role at home with the family. Per Auburn's official press release on the move, "In his new role within the athletics department, Gross will assist with fundraising efforts and appear on Auburn baseball radio and television broadcasts, among other duties."
“My family and I have been incredibly blessed over the years by many things, but perhaps none more so than Auburn University and the game of baseball,” Gross said. “It has been an incredible honor to serve as Auburn’s hitting coach over the last nine years, an experience my entire family has cherished, but the time has come for me to transition into a different role for Auburn Athletics.
“I have two teenagers at home, and our time with them under our roof is quickly fading,” Gross added. “The current construct of collegiate athletics and college baseball demand your full attention, and my family does as well. While it’s difficult to step away, I know it’s the right decision. I want to thank Coach Thompson for giving me the opportunity to coach at Auburn. I also want to personally thank the Auburn Family for their love and support on and off the field as both a player and coach. Lastly, I want to thank all the players I have coached during my career at Auburn. The relationships built with all my former and current players continue to be very special to me. Watching them display the toughness and skill required to excel in the SEC and put Auburn baseball in a position to once again contend for championships has been the highlight of my coaching career. To every former and current Auburn baseball player, thank you. I love you guys. War Eagle!”
Gabe Gross lost faith from Auburn's fanbase
Gross's Tigers offense underperformed during the 2026 season and postseason. Against the Ole Miss Rebels in a two-game Super Regionals sweep at Plainsman Park, Auburn's bats went 1/10 with runners in scoring position. To boot, the Tigers batted just .211 through their first nine SEC games during the regular season.
Against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn's bats were 5/46. It was hard not to find a flaw in the Tigers' collective efforts at the plate all year. As you could imagine, that made Gross a popular scapegoat at the campaign's conclusion.
Now, Gross moves into an administrative role with the school, and it looks like he got promoted, on the surface. Meanwhile, Gross is essentially just a godfathered-in guest of honor on the Plains on the baseball diamond moving forward. He earned the job from his earlier career. 2026 was a tough one for the former MLBer.
Gross could've easily been fired if Thompson eventually felt a change was needed, as the fans did. This is an honorable way to avoid an awkward situation and allow Gross to represent his alma mater.
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