Luke Gross

{{ infobox Rugby biography

| image = Luke Gross.jpg

| birthname=

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|21}}

| birth_place = Decatur, Indiana

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=9}}

| weight = {{convert|125|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

| ru_position =Lock

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = Cincinnati Wolfhounds

| repyears1 =1996–2003

| repteam1 = United States

| repcaps1 = 62

| reppoints1 =0

| coachteams1 = Sacramento Express

| coachteams2 = Indiana University

| coachyears1 = 2016

| coachyears2 = 2022

| ru_coachupdate = Sept 18 2024

}}

Luke Gross (born November 21, 1959) is an American former rugby union player and current rugby coach and administrator. A lock who played for various club sides, he earned 62 caps for the United States between 1996 and 2003. Gross was the all-time caps leader for the United States, until Mike MacDonald broke his record in 2011.{{cite web |url=http://web.usarugby.org/viadesto/natteams/mnt/history.html |title=Men's National Team: Historical Data |publisher=USA Rugby |date=2008-01-15 |access-date=2008-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208102107/http://web.usarugby.org/viadesto/natteams/mnt/history.html |archive-date=2012-02-08 |url-status=dead }}

Since retiring as a player, Gross has served as a rugby administrator and coach. He was the head coach of PRO Rugby team Sacramento Express in 2016. In August 2022, Gross accepted the position as head coach of the Indiana University Men's Rugby team.{{cite web | url=https://www.goffrugbyreport.com/news/luke-gross-signs-mens-rugby-head-coach-indiana-university | title=Luke Gross Signs on as Men's Rugby Head Coach at Indiana University | Goff Rugby Report | date=16 August 2022 }}

Playing career

Gross was born in Decatur, Indiana. Gross played basketball for Indiana State University and for Marshall University for two seasons (1991–92 and 1992–93).{{cite web |url=http://herdzone.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/mars/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/m-baskbl-mg-0708-section7 |title=History & Records: All-Time Rosters |work=2007-08 Marshall Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=Marshall University Athletic Department |format=PDF |page=135 |accessdate=2008-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929114512/http://herdzone.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/mars/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/m-baskbl-mg-0708-section7 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |url-status=dead }}

Gross started his rugby career far later than most international players, even those from countries like the United States where rugby is not a major sport, not taking up the sport seriously until age 24, after he had attended university. He began his rugby career with the Cincinnati Wolfhounds.{{cite web |url=http://web.usarugby.org/cgi-bin/viadesto/natteams/mnt/15ProfileDetail.pl?playerId=15 |title=Men's National Team Player Profile: Luke Gross |publisher=USA Rugby |date=2008-01-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611035830/http://web.usarugby.org/cgi-bin/viadesto/natteams/mnt/15ProfileDetail.pl?playerId=15 |archivedate=2009-06-11 }} Gross was spotted by Dick Best, coach of the Harlequins.[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/gross-plays-like-theres-no-4627622 "Gross plays like there's no tomorrow"], The Journal, January 4, 2005.

Gross' 6"9' frame gave him a considerable presence in the line-out. Gross earned 62 caps in 61 starts for the United States from 1996 to 2003, including 7 starts at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups.[http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/12148.html Luke Gross], ESPN Scrum, Retrieved February 5, 2016. Gross played his first test for the U.S. in 1996 against Ireland. His last four test matches came at the 2003 World Cup, which included a win over Japan.

Although he was named to the USA squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and played in the 2007 squad's final warmup against Celtic League side Munster, he did not play in the World Cup itself.{{cite web |url=http://web.usarugby.org/cgi-bin/viadesto/natteams/mnt/playerDetail.pl?playerId=15 |title=Men's National Team Player Detail: Luke Gross |publisher=USA Rugby |date=2008-01-15 |access-date=2008-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727181320/http://web.usarugby.org/cgi-bin/viadesto/natteams/mnt/playerDetail.pl?playerId=15 |archive-date=2011-07-27 |url-status=dead }}

Gross moved to Italy to play for Rivigo in 1998, and then played for Roma where the team won the Italian Cup.[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/gross-plays-like-theres-no-4627622 "Gross plays like there's no tomorrow"], The Journal, January 4, 2005. Gross last played rugby for the Doncaster Knights, who play in National Division One, the second level of the game in England.

=Clubs=

{{Flagicon|ENG}} Harlequins FC
{{Flagicon|ITA}} Rugby Rovigo
{{Flagicon|ITA}} Rugby Roma
{{Flagicon|WAL}} Llanelli Scarlets
{{Flagicon|ENG}} Rotherham Titans
{{Flagicon|ENG}} Newcastle Falcons
{{Flagicon|ENG}} Doncaster Knights
{{flagicon|ENG}} Sheffield Tigers

Coaching and administration

Gross has worked for several years at the USA Rugby National Office in Boulder, Colorado as the High Performance Player Development Manager, helping and coaching at USA Eagles and All-Americans camps. During part of this time he was also a very successful head coach for the University of Colorado-Boulder.

In February 2016, Gross was announced as the head coach of the new Sacramento PRO Rugby team.[http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2016/02/gross-picked-to-lead-sacramento-pro-side.html"Gross Picked To Lead Sacramento PRO Side"], This Is American Rugby, February 4, 2016.

In August 2022, Gross accepted the position as head coach of the Indiana University Men's Rugby team.{{cite web | url=https://www.goffrugbyreport.com/news/luke-gross-signs-mens-rugby-head-coach-indiana-university | title=Luke Gross Signs on as Men's Rugby Head Coach at Indiana University | Goff Rugby Report | date=16 August 2022 }}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090611035830/http://web.usarugby.org/cgi-bin/viadesto/natteams/mnt/15ProfileDetail.pl?playerId=15 USA Rugby profile]
http://statistics.scrum.com/rugby_stats_05.asp?ID=UGR4

Category:1969 births

Category:Rugby union players from Indiana

Category:Rugby union coaches from Indiana

Category:Doncaster R.F.C. players

Category:Living people

Category:Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball players

Category:People from Decatur, Indiana

Category:Rotherham Titans players

Category:Rugby Roma Olimpic players

Category:Rugby union locks

Category:United States international rugby union players

Category:American expatriate rugby union players in Italy