Luke Gross Signs on as Men's Rugby Head Coach at Indiana University
Luke Gross Signs on as Men's Rugby Head Coach at Indiana University
The University of Indiana men's rugby program has confirmed that Luke Gross as their new Head Coach.
IU played last season under interim Head Coach Eddie Abel, who had stated that he did not expect to be a long-term coaching solution for the program. Indiana finished runner-up in the Big 10 and then competed in both the R7CC and May Madness 7s under 7s Coach David Fee.
But the move was afoot to make the coaching position at Indiana a full-time position, and IU rugby alumnus and current backer, Mark Cuban, has reportedly agreed to help fund that.
Gross played basketball at Marshall and Indiana State. A native of Indiana, he took up rugby in the mid-1990s and first played with the Cincinnati Wolfhounds before embarking on a professional rugby career that lasted 12 years and saw him suit up for pro teams in England, Wales, and Italy. When Gross played his last game for the USA, the lock held the all-time record for USA caps with 62. That record has since been broken, but he remains the 3rd most-capped Eagle.
After his playing career wrapped up, Gross coached with the USA age-grade programs and with the senior Eagles. He also coaches at University of Colorado, the Sacramento Express team in PRO Rugby (the professional league that predated MLR), and most recently with the Glendale Raptors, Rugbytown Crossover Academy. and American Raptors programs in the Denver area.
But now it is time for him to return to the state of his birth.
"We're eager for his arrival and can't wait to begin this new chapter of Hoosier rugby," said Indiana Rugby's Will Chevalier in a text to GRR.
After IU confirmed the signing on social media, Indiana University alum, former Rudy Scholz Award-winner, and USA star Bryce Campbell said: "Awesome news, looking forward to your success in Bloomington."
