WICHITA, Kan. – Marty Gross has joined the men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach at Wichita State, Head Coach Gregg Marshall announced today.

“I’ve known Marty Gross nearly 20 years,” Marshall said. “I’ve never heard a bad thing said about him in the coaching business. I think he is the consummate professional. He is a “professional” college basketball coach. He does it all, from marketing and public relations to recruiting and game preparation to game coaching. He is one of the finest gentlemen in the business.”

Marty Gross, one of the most highly respected assistant coaches in the country, comes to Wichita State after 17 years at Rice, including the last 15-straight seasons.

He just completed his 30th college season, and has been instrumental in cultivating the careers of 31 pros, 21 from Rice, including Mike Wilks of the Seattle SuperSonics and Brent Scott formerly of the Indiana Pacers, eight from Jacksonville, and two from Birmingham Southern College.

In addition to Rice, Gross also coached at his alma mater, Jacksonville University. His first stint at Jacksonville was from 1981 to 1983. Gross returned to Jacksonville in 1985 and spent the next seven years at the campus, including three seasons as the schools associate head coach.

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 men's basketball program, including fund raising, player development, community outreach, scouting, and daily practice with a focus on individual and team defense.

Gross began his collegiate coaching career at Birmingham-Southern College with former Chicago Bulls coach Murray Arnold 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.

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 his more notable players include 1986 second-round draftee Otis Smith (Denver), 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).
Gross was a four-year letterman for Jacksonville, serving as the team's captain as a senior in 1977. He also played on the 1974 Jacksonville NIT team, which featured four future NBA draft selections.

He received a B.S. in management from Jacksonville in 1977, and a M.A.T. from the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 1979. Gross is a native of Yankton, S.D., where he was an all-state basketball player as a senior in 1973. He is a member of the NABC, TABC, and Saint Martin's Episcopal Church.

He was born Aug. 5, 1955, in Yankton, S.D., and is married to Mary Pat Nelson.