HELENA, Mont. – Charlie Gross has been selected as the 2025-26 Frontier Conference Athletic Director of the Year after continuing to elevate Carroll College Athletics through competitive success, academic excellence, facility enhancements, and conference leadership.
 
The Frontier Conference Athletic Director of the Year honor reflects Gross' commitment to student-athlete success, institutional advancement, and service to the conference.
 
Since being named Carroll's Director of Athletics in 2016, Gross has guided one of the NAIA's premier athletic departments while fostering a culture centered on student-athlete success. Under his leadership, Carroll Athletics has experienced sustained growth across all areas of the department, including championship performances, academic achievement, fundraising, and facility development.
 
Gross has played a significant role within the Frontier Conference, serving as Chair of the Frontier Conference Athletic Directors Association, Frontier Conference Administrative Supervisor for men's and women's basketball, and a member of the conference's membership committee. He also represents the conference nationally through his service on the NAIA Return on Athletics Advisory Committee.
 
His leadership has helped Carroll Athletics reach new heights. The Fighting Saints have continued to excel in competition, producing national champions, conference championships, national tournament appearances, All-Americans, and conference award winners across a multitude of sports.
 
Academically, Carroll student-athletes are consistently ranked among the conference leaders, posting some of the highest department-wide grade-point averages in the Frontier Conference. This past spring, Carroll student-athletes combined for a department-wide 3.53 GPA - the highest recorded semester in Carroll history.
 
Beyond competitive success, Gross has overseen transformational growth within the athletic department. Membership and support for the Saints Athletic Association have increased significantly, corporate partnerships have more than doubled, and philanthropic giving to athletics has expanded substantially. He also guided major facility improvements, highlighted by the Nelson Stadium Enhancement Project, one of the largest investments in Carroll Athletics in more than two decades. The project included the installation of synthetic turf and upgraded stadium lighting, providing a first-class experience for Carroll student-athletes and fans.
 
Carroll was named the inaugural NAIA School of Character in September 2024, and has been named Frontier Conference School of Character for two consecutive years.

This marks the second time throughout his tenure that Gross has been named the conference's Athletic Director of the Year (2024). 

Gross will now move on to the ballot for the NAIA National Athletic Director of the year, with the announcement to be made in as part of NAIA Awards day in September.
 

Be sure to visit www.carrollathletics.com to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.

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