Former Auburn All-American Gabe Gross re-joined the Tigers' coaching staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2018 season and enters his ninth season back on The Plains in 2026. He was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in July 2023.
Gross and the offense have played an instrumental role in leading the team to Omaha twice in three postseasons from 2019-22 to go along with four super regional appearances and five regional appearances, including a regional host site bid in three of the last four seasons and the first home super regional in program history in 2025.
In Gross' eight seasons as the hitting coach, the Tigers have turned in a .284 combined batting average with 851 doubles and 550 home runs in 439 games. With 80 or more home runs in four of the last five seasons, including 88 in 2025 - good for the third highest mark in program history, four of the program's top eight home run totals have come under his guidance. In the seven season prior to his arrival (2011-17), Auburn totaled 205 home runs.
Gross' offenses have ranked in the top 25 in the country in 15 statistical categories during his eight-year tenure, most recently ranking 11th in the NCAA with 132 doubles in 2025.
Gross has helped mentor 18 All-SEC honorees, including 2022 SEC Co-Player of the Year Sonny DiChiara, five All-Americans, five Freshman All-Americans and 15 MLB Draft picks, headlined by 2025 first round pick Ike Irish, who became the highest-drafted position player (19th) since Gross (15th) in 2001. He has also seen his players set eight top-10 offensive marks in program history.
Hitting development has been a big emphasis under Gross, headlined by the following statistical jumps from notable players.