MANSFIELD, Pa. – Mansfield University Athletic Director Peggy Carl has named Evan Gross the new strength and conditioning head coach at Mansfield University.
 
"We are excited to welcome coach Evan Gross to Mansfield," said Bashar W. Hanna, president. "He brings with him an impressive background which will help make an immediate and positive impact on our student-athletes. I'm excited to see our Mounties succeed under Coach Gross's leadership."
 
"We are thrilled that Evan will be joining us to begin the new year," Carl stated. "His collegiate experience and educational background are a perfect match for Mansfield and our student-athletes.  The level of detail and expertise that Evan will bring to the position are exactly what we need. I am excited to welcome Evan to the Mountie family."
 
A dedicated exercise science professional, Gross has over a decade of coaching experience in strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and sports performance.
 
Gross joins the Mountaineers after spending the last two years as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut Under the supervision of Emil Johnson, Gross designed and implemented year-round programming for all 16 NCAA Division I sports teams, while assisting in the development of the new Exercise Science department at the University.
 
"I want to thank Director of Athletics Peggy Carl and the rest of the search committee for giving me this opportunity," Gross said. "I am extremely excited to get to Mansfield and begin working with all of the dedicated student-athletes and coaches. Go Mounties!"
 
From 2019-21, Gross worked at Hartford Heathcare as an exercise physiologist, where he had direct oversight of Bloomfield Goodlife Fitness program.
 
Gross will also return to his routes in the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL), after spending the 2014-15 season as the running backs coach for the United States Military Academy sprint football team under legendary head coach Lt. Col. Mark West.
 
Gross began his coaching career as the head strength and conditioning coach at Simsbury High School, where he created programs for the football, baseball, wrestling, rugby, lacrosse, and track and field teams. In five years as head coach of the program (2009-14) Gross supervised over $50,000 of renovation to the weight room.
 
Gross earned his Bachelor of Science degree in applied exercise science from Springfield College in 2011, before earning his Master of Science from Central Connecticut State University in 2018. While at Central Connecticut, Gross helped train seven Northeast Conference Champions programs from 2016-17 as a sports performance graduate intern.
 
Gross remained with the Blue Devils in 2018-19 as the assistant sports performance coach, educating the women's swimming and diving, women's soccer, football, and men's and women's basketball student-athletes on proper nutrition and recovery, while focusing on increasing athletic performance.
 
The Simsbury, Connecticut native holds certifications in National Strength and Conditioning Association (Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and American Red Cross (Adult First Aid/CPR/AED).