Coach Gross graduated from Jackson High School in 1997. While in high school, he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball and earned All-Conference and All-District awards as a quarterback in football. He continued playing football at Southeast Missouri State University where he graduated in 2001 with a B.S. Degree in Education. He earned his Master’s Degree in Secondary Athletic Administration from Southeast in 2003.

Mike is a seventh grade Math teacher at the Jackson Middle School. He has been coaching in Jackson since 2002 and is currently the Jr. High Head Football Coach, 7th-grade Girls Basketball Coach, and Assistant JHS Track Coach. He is married to the former Lindsey Meyer of Jackson. She is a 1998 graduate of Jackson and is also a teacher at the Jackson Middle School. They have four children: Layne, Emerson, Tatum, and Elliett.