Teammate, Scholar-Athlete, Serviceman: Frank Gross Leaves Behind A Legacy That Lands Him In the RMAC Hall of Fame
RMAC Media Relations
This is the second profile of six individuals being inducted into the 2019 RMAC Hall of Fame on Friday, July 12 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel. The 2005 Fort Lewis Men's Soccer Team will also be inducted. Click here to view profile 1.
Coach Joe Vigil first met Franklin (Frank) Gross, a Culver City, California native and a five-time NAIA Champion thrower, while Frank was representing Colorado Springs’ Wasson High School as a senior in a meet.
“[Wasson High School] had an outstanding track and field program and of course, as a coach, I was recruiting,” said Vigil. “He was an outstanding high school shot-putter, he was big, weighed 240-250 and he was very athletic, very agile for his size and weight.”
As a coach, Vigil was drawn to Frank due to more than just his athletic abilities. Frank was also a great academic student, which made him stand out among the other athletes. When Vigil spoke to Frank’s counselors and coaches about his personality and character, they all had outstanding things to say on Frank’s behalf.
“I, surprisingly, convinced [Frank] to come to Adams State,” said Vigil. “[He] was just a very good student and a very good athlete. That’s about all I knew about him and that’s what I was interested in.”
While recruiting Frank, Vigil admittedly did not know that Frank would develop into such a fine human and teammate. Frank’s integrity and character prevailed him to serve successfully as a leader and a team captain for Adams State University (formerly known as Adams State College) track and field for four consecutive years.
To win, Vigil said that you must be committed to what you’re doing, and Frank was the epitome of that. Frank was business-like in every aspect of his life, whether it be in the classroom, in the weight room or on the athletic field. Vigil referred to Frank as a ‘second coach’ when explaining that he “would not allow the athletes, the male athletes, to horse around. They were out there for business; train, get it done, go back home and study.”
Frank held his teammates to a high standard and was always there to support them. He was always interested in how his teammates where doing during the competition.
“The thing that was remarkable about Frank was that he did not only care about his event,” said Vigil. “He would run back and forth from his shot, discuss or hammer competition to see how his teammates were doing and sort of kick them in the rear and cheer them on.”
Frank’s competitive edge and business-like demeanor assisted him in leading Adams State to NAIA Runner-Up finishes in 1977 and 1978. He also earned 11 All-American recognitions, Most Outstanding Athlete of the national meet during his senior year, RMAC All-Centennial Team, Adams State Hall of Fame and a five-time NAIA National Champion.
“I think he has earned [all the recognition] and is certainly deserving,” exclaimed Vigil. “He certainly was a leader, the coaches remembered him, and they revered him.”
Frank was highly respected by his teammates as well as fellow coaches and athletes around the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) because of his positivity while speaking to coaches and members of other teams.
“I’ve never had another person like him before or since,” said Vigil. “This honor that the RMAC is going to give him is certainly long overdue.”
Frank received a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Adams State before going on to earn a Master’s in Physiology and Biomechanics from the University of Denver. It was not long after his graduate program ended that Frank told Vigil he was ready to be a coach and with the help of Vigil, Frank became the head track and field coach at Albuquerque High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Frank coached there for one year before he decided to coach at a higher level.
“So, low and behold, he joined the Army and they assigned him to be an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy,” said Vigil. “He was a very good coach, very proficient and he got his officers ranking and they reassigned him to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and he became the fitness director for the whole base for the enlisted men.”
Frank moved around a lot in the military and eventually, the two lost contact for several years. Though, Vigil recalls how fate guided the two together, one last time.
“Out of sense was “Coach Vigil”, I had heard it, it was Frank,” Vigil said. “He was coming through Pagosa Springs at the same time and that was the last time I ever saw Frank.”
Frank passed away on January 2012 after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Frank will be honored and recognized at the 2019 RMAC Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Friday, July 12 at the Colorado Springs Marriott. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit
www.RMACSPORTS.org/HOF2019.