Carroll College Athletics

As a coach and a role model, Jim Gross walks tall in the annals of Carroll College athletic history. A graduate of Helena Cathedral High (1954) and Carroll (1961), he served as a CC assistant football and basketball coach from 1969-73. After guiding Helena High basketball to a pair of State hoops championships – 1984 girls, 1991 boys – Gross took over the Hilltoper womens’ cage program for 12 seasons. From 1992-2003, he compiled a 164-161 career mark with the Lady Saints. 

Among his highlights was their Frontier runner-up in 1998, culminating with the 1999 Conference crown, when Carroll went 21-11 and defeated MSU-Northern in the year-end tourney finals. During his two stints on the Hilltop, Jim always shared his sharp coaching acumen, sound advice, ready ear to listen, and ability as a great mentor with his student/athletes. His charges learned the meaning of sacrifice because he exemplified it. 

When Carroll needed an athletic director, Jim accepted the additional workload, serving in that capacity from 2001-03. He maintained his support of Carroll’s sporting programs through his generous leadership for the Saints Athletic Association long after retirement. Among Gross’ career accolades were the 1991 Dick Muffick Award, another CC induction (1999 team in 2014), and the 2022 Helena Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement.