BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Longtime University of Toronto water polo coach George Gross, Jr., announced his retirement, effective May 1, 2024 as a head coach at the institution.
“George has been a cornerstone for water polo in the Ontario university athletics landscape,” said Mary Beth Challoner, director of intercollegiate and high performance sport. “His dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment have led to continued development and growth of the sport at the collegiate level. We extend our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to George in his retirement.”
A legendary figure within the water polo community, Gross Jr. most recently completed his 16th season as head coach of the Varsity Blues women’s water polo team. During that stretch, which began in 2008, the Toronto native guided the Blues to five Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships and seven National Collegiate Water Polo (NCWP) titles, including a string of 10 straight provincial banners between 2013-23. For his efforts, Gross Jr. was named OUA coach of the year twice and NCWP coach of the year five times. His women’s water polo players received all-star honors 44 times during those 16 seasons, while his Varsity Blues teams were recognized with both the most valuable goalie and most valuable player 19 times.
Prior to taking over the leadership of the Varsity Blues women’s program, Gross Jr. was the coach of the men’s water polo team from 1987-89. Following the 1989 season, he shifted into a managerial role for both the men’s and women’s teams, focused on recruiting and fundraising for the Blues water polo program.
Additionally, Gross Jr. won nine men’s water polo national titles as head coach with his club teams and served as Canada’s head coach from 1987-91 and 1994-96.
As a player, he was a 13-time Canadian first team all-star, a two-time Pan-Am Games bronze medalist, and a two-time Olympian (1976, 1984).
A 2005 inductee to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame to accompany inductions to the University of Toronto, Ontario Aquatics, Etobicoke Sports and Yale University Water Polo Halls of Fame, Gross was among the best collegiate athletes of his generation.
He starred at goaltender for an exceptional Yale men’s water polo team from 1971-1973, earning All-East honors all three years. Yale ruled the East during that time, posting a 39-0 record versus Eastern opponents, winning the Eastern Championship (the precursor of the CWPA) three times, and competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship in 1972. In honor of his success, Gross was named the first member of the Yale Water Polo Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Yale in 1974, Gross played for the Toronto men’s team for two seasons, earning the team Most Valuable Player award and leading the university league in scoring as a field player both years.
Upon returning home to Canada, Gross earned a roster spot on the Canadian Men’s National Team and enjoyed a long and successful career as an international player. He played in two Olympic Games (1976 and 1984), scoring the longest goal in Olympic water polo history versus China in 1984; five Pan Am Games (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1995), winning two bronze medals and enjoying a six-goal game; three World Aquatics Games (1975, 1978, 1986), serving as Canada’s flag-bearer at the 1986 games; and two World Student Games (1977 and 1979). All told, Gross scored 162 goals in 170 international matches.
After the conclusion of his international playing career, Gross served as Head Coach of the Canadian Men’s National Team twice, from 1987-1991 and 1994-1996. He led the unit to two World Aquatic Games, one Pan Am Games and through qualification for two Olympic Games.
In 1980, Gross founded the Toronto City Golden Jets water polo club and served as head coach/player from 1980-84 and 1986-1991. Hewas named a first team All-Star at the National Championship eleven times, was awarded both Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Coach honors in 1982 and was again named MVP in 1986. Under his guidance, the club grew from 12 initial members to 125 members in men’s, women’s, junior and senior levels of play. The Men’s team won the 1982 and 1986 National Championships, five silver medals, bronze medals and numerous provincial titles.
He has served as the keynote speaker at a water polo symposium in Athens, Greece, the induction ceremonies for the Missouri State Water Polo Hall of Fame, and the Sports For Kids Gala Event.
The voice of Canadian Olympic water polo coverage over the past decades, Gross has given back to the CWPA/Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)/Northeast Water Polo Conference as a announcer for the league’s varsity and collegiate club championships – including the recently completed 2024 CWPA Championship at Harvard University and the Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship at Texas A&M University.
His athletic and sports media success continued the tradition of his father, George Gross, Sr. A 1985 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, winning the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award which is, “presented annually to a print newspaper columnist or reporter in recognition of their achievements covering the game of ice hockey”, he served as Sports Editor of the Toronto Sun. In 1994, he received the Olympic Order, and he was inducted into the Slovak Hockey Hall of Fame as well as the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2003, he was presented with the Order of Ontario. In 2005, Gross was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and in April 2006, Gross was inducted as a builder into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame for his work co-founding the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League
In 2004, the Toronto Sun began its annual George Gross/Toronto Sun Sportsperson of the Year award.
Shortly after his death in 2008, the Canadian Soccer Association created the George Gross Memorial Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of the annual Canadian Championship. As well, Tennis Canada announced renamed the Rexall Centre the George Gross Media Centre.
George Gross Coaching Collegiate Coaching Career:
- University of Toronto Men’s Water Polo Head Coach (1987-1989)
- University of Toronto Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Manager (1990-1999)
- University of Toronto Women’s Water Polo Head Coach (2008-2023)
