CHULA VISTA, California (Press Release) — Michael Gross has been named Head Coach of the Team USA Girls Under 18 Softball Team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel – which will take place during July 2022. The Maccabiah Games, also known as the Jewish Olympics, are the third largest international multi-sport event in the world! Tryouts for the U18 Girls Softball team take place in a few weeks.
This will be Gross’ first time representing Team USA in the Maccabi Games. He is currently the Assistant Head Softball Coach at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista. This will be his first year at the college after seven years coaching at Olympian High School in Chula Vista. Gross is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and was previously a Board Member with Bonita Valley Girls Softball for 12 years. He was recently named High School Coach of the Week by the San Diego Padres.
For Gross, the Maccabiah is important because it combines his deep passion for sports and Israel with his Jewish heritage. “I am involved because I want to demonstrate that Jewish athletes are extremely capable of competing on the World Stage. I am excited to be a part of the development of a pipeline of Jewish-American athletes to help build not only softball, but sports in general in Israel,” he said.
Gross’ goals for the Maccabiah Games in Israel next summer are to represent the USA well, compete well, and make this experience a trip of a lifetime for the players on the team. This will be Gross’ first time visiting Israel!
Gross has been coaching softball since 2004 when his oldest daughter started playing t-ball. For Gross, coaching is a passion. He is a retired Government Budget Director and also works as a Public Address Announcer for San Diego State University, the University of San Diego, Point Loma Nazaren College, and many local high schools.
Gross is married to his wife Lisa and they have three daughters: Sarah, Emily and Aly. They live in Chula Vista where they have resided for the last 20 years.
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Maccabi USA is seeking qualified Jewish athletes to represent the USA delegation at the 21st Maccabiah Games. Eligible applicants should visit www.maccabiusa.com to apply. For more information, please contact Senior Director of Programs Shane Carr at scarr@maccabiusa.com or 215.561.6900
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Preceding provided by Maccabi USA