Nicki Gross is a woman who is attempting to make a career out of coaching men’s professional basketball. She is not interested in words of praise that end in “for a woman“ or anything of that nature. Gross works hard and that has been her calling card thus far in her young career.
Honestly, I did not know much about Nicki until the news broke that she would indeed be hired as an assistant coach of the Iowa Energy for the 2015-16 season. So, I reached out to one of her past colleagues, Brian Levy. Levy is the assistant general manager for the Bakersfield Jam where Gross was the assistant video coordinator during the 2013-14 season.
Here’s what he had to say:
"Nicki is a tireless, almost relentless, worker. Up at 4 am most mornings and unafraid of working past midnight, there aren’t many willing to put in her kind of hours and effort. She’s a perfectionist and never settled for “good enough.” She came highly recommended from every previous stop. The common theme we kept hearing was your organization will be better off with Nicki around. And it was no different with us. She did anything that was asked if her, on the court, in the film room and helping organize player personnel during the draft. We were lucky to have her in Bakersfield. Gender never seemed to be an issue with Nicki. She integrated herself into our team culture and never looked back. Players, staff, everyone respected her. She was in the foxhole with the rest of us. I’m ecstatic that she is getting this opportunity, especially with a quality organization like Iowa. She more than deserves it."
Everyone I spoke to about the hire loved it, and the common theme was that Nicki is an individual who demands your respect from day one.
This will be Gross’ third D-League season. She has been an assistant video coordinator at Bakersfield and a video coordinator at Iowa. Now, she’s taking the leap into the coaching ranks as a vital part of head coach Bob Donewald’s staff.
U&M: I read that you were a four-year soccer player during your time in college at Seton Hall. Why the jump into basketball instead of looking to do something in soccer?
Gross: I’ve always loved basketball. It was awesome at Seton Hall because the Big East, the old Big East, was full of great programs and I loved watching as many games as I could. Basketball has always been a passion of mine and after graduation I jumped right in.
U&M: How did you go from being a grad manager at Monmouth University to getting hired by the Bakersfield Jam?
Gross: I served as an intern at the Las Vegas Summer League in 2013 and that was really the starting point on how I got the job. I was working hard with the other interns and I met some people from Bakersfield and I didn’t know at the time but their staff was watching my work ethic while I was there. That led to an interview and I got the job.
U&M: Tell the readers a little bit about your job duties as a video coordinator.
Gross: Well, in Bakersfield I was the assistant, so honestly I did a little bit of everything. I would work on post-game edits for players, player scouting, player development, pre-game stuff for the assistant coaches; it’s really very involved. In Iowa I was on my own as the coordinator because I didn’t have an assistant, so I worked very closely with the assistant coaches on pre-game stuff and with Coach Donewald on post-game stuff.
U&M: How will your responsibilities change now that you’re an assistant coach?
Gross: I will focus on scouting, on-court workouts for players and doing what I can to help prepare the players for the games. I definitely have an increased responsibility and I really look forward to it.
U&M: Has it been weird for you to get all of this added attention being that your the lone female coach in the D-League?
Gross: It’s different. You know, on the staffs I’ve been on gender has never been an issue. We all have the same goals of helping the team and that’s how I look at it, honestly. I do hope to inspire others with the role, however.
U&M: Have you talked to any other current female coaches in the men’s pro game since your hire?
Gross: I haven’t reached out to them yet. It’s an exciting time and it’s cool to see, but in my mind I want to win and help develop our players.
U&M: Is it a goal of yours to eventually be in the NBA as a coach?
Gross: I want to be in the NBA eventually, for sure. I just love the on-court work with players, but right now I’m thinking short-term and I’m focused on next season with the Iowa Energy.
U&M: What are some of your main hobbies outside of coaching?
Gross: This might sound weird, but I love to watch basketball in my free time. If a college game is on TV, I’m watching it. I can’t get away from it. Sometimes the coaches will get together and we will all go out to Buffalo Wild Wings or something. Of course basketball is on there, too, so we end up watching even more. I do like to go for runs, too. I’m getting more and more into marathons. I’ve completed four of those so far.