Former All-American Gabe Gross is back for more.
Auburn baseball coach John Pawlowski announced Monday that Gross will serve as volunteer assistant coach for Auburn baseball for the 2012-13 season.
"We are excited that Gabe Gross, a very familiar name around Auburn, will return to our staff and help us on our quest for Omaha in 2013," Pawlowski said. "I was encouraged by the progress we made offensively last year and he certainly was a big part of that."
Pawlowski said Gross, a student assistant for the team last season, will continue to work with the outfielders as well as lead and direct the hitters.
Gross, a three-sport star at Northview High School in Dothan, Ala., began his Auburn career as a third baseman for the baseball team and quarterback for the football team.
Gross and fellow sophomore quarterback Ben Leard shuttled back and forth in the starting lineup during their sophomore season.
After Leard replaced Gross in the third quarter of the season opener in 1999, Leard led the Tigers to three straight wins.
After losing the starting job, Gross gave up football to focus solely on baseball.
"Gabe has been great for us. He's been great leadership for us on the sidelines and he handled not being a starter well," coach Tommy Tuberville said to al.com of Gross's decision at the time. "I think it's time for him to be selfish, time for him to do what's best for Gabe Gross."
The football team lost its next five games after his departure, but Gross, who moved to the outfield his sophomore season, shined with his focus only on baseball.
Gross hit .430 his junior year and was named an All-American player.
One year later he was drafted 15th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays and played for four different major league teams in his career before retiring in the spring of 2011.
"I am excited about guiding our offense this season," Gross said. "Working with the team last year was a good experience and I look forward to helping our hitters develop and reach their potential. I want to thank Coach Pawlowski for giving me this opportunity, and I look forward to getting to work."
Gross fills the opening created by assistant coach Ty Megahee's departure to replace former assistant Link Jarrett, who was named head coach at UNC-Greensboro this summer.
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