If the Auburn Tigers say goodbye to hitting coach Gabe Gross this offseason, as many in the fanbase are calling for, it'd be a painful one. Regardless of what you think of the team's hitting woes with runners in scoring position over the past several years of postseason failures, Gross is still a valuable presence in the program.
We're talking about a former Major Leaguer who played for four franchises and had a seven-year playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Oakland Athletics. He was a feast-or-famine hitter, but Gross was a solid hand facing a dominant era of MLB pitching in the aughts. Having someone who's been there and done that sell you on AU's world-class facilities is quite the pitch, if you will.
It may be time when the rubber meets the road for Gross, though. Opportunity, plus a downturn in the court of public opinion with the Tigers' fanbase, could create the perfect storm for Gross to branch out from under Butch Thompson and become a head coach for the first time. A second-straight sweep in the Super Regional, last year coming at the hands of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, this year coming at the hands of the Ole Miss Rebels, has fans thinking a change needs to come from somewhere. No one thinks Thompson needs to go. The bats need a jolt of energy, though, and Gross unfortunately is caught in the crossfire here. The blame has to go somewhere. Gross may have to go somewhere else himself.
Gross hasn't been away from the SEC since his days rocking orange and blue. He worked for the SEC Network after retiring from the MLB. Now seems like the perfect time to get the springboard job that'd get him an SEC head coaching job in the future. Potentially even AU's when Thompson's time is up.
Gabe Gross should become Jacksonville State's head coach
A move north to Calhoun County could be just what the doctor ordered for Gross. The Gadsden Times' Maxwell Donaldson linked Gross to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks' head coaching vacancy.
JSU is on the prowl after Steve Bieser sensibly left for more money, but unexpectedly found a preferable job opening with the Grand Canyon Lopes. Gross could use recruiting ties in the state to boost the Gamecocks' talent base. He could probably help Jacksonville State steal more than a few bats from the Tigers or the Alabama Crimson Tide.
After a disappointing upset loss to the Little Rock Trojans in the Hattiesburg Regional, JSU could rock the Yellowhammer State with a Gross hiring. Thus far, Gross hasn't been linked to the South Carolina Gamecocks' opening, so it's clear an SEC head coaching job isn't the next step. Having many Auburn fans cheer him on at Jax State, as many do naturally due to proximity, would be an easy career pivot. Gross has done enough on the Plains to bring some fans with him.
We'll see where the hiring cycle goes, but it'd be nice to see Gross go to Jacksonville.
Add us as a preferred source on Google