Will Gross embraces the fun and flexibility of coaching at Match Point KC

Coaches do so much more than teach tennis. They help players grow as individuals, teaching grit, resilience and patience.

This October, which is National Coach Appreciation Month, USTA Heart of America is highlighting Will Gross, director and tennis coach at Match Point KC in Blue Springs, Mo.

Gross, a USTA Coaching member, started playing tennis when he was in middle school. He recounted how, at the age of 13, he gave it a try on the basketball court at School of the Osage, which he said is “smack dab in the middle of Missouri.” Growing up, his main focus was on soccer. However, the school didn’t have a team.

“They did have tennis, though, so I went with that,” he said.

Gross quickly found his passion in tennis, playing competitively in USTA tournaments across the USTA Missouri Valley. His skills earned him a scholarship to play for the William Jewell College men’s tennis team, which brought him to Kansas City.

During his competitive career, he was inspired by many great coaches.

“I was fortunate enough to have some legendary coaches along the way in Jason Kane, Chris Claypool and Tim Garner,” he said.

Being surrounded by their support may have helped launch what would become his career in tennis. After college, Gross started teaching tennis part time.

“Then, somewhere along the way, I kind of fell into doing it full time,” he said.

Today, he leads tennis programming at Match Point KC. In the two years he’s been there, Gross has taught both juniors and adults. When asked which age group he’d consider his specialty, Gross shared that it can shift as programming evolves.

“The owners would probably laugh at this question, but I used to say my specialty was adults,” he said. “I’d definitely say juniors now. It just goes to show how much each club and coaching environment can be different.”

Gross shared that there is a diverse talent pool at Match Point KC.

“We have everything from recreational players all the way to nationally ranked juniors, including some of the top-ranked players in their respective age brackets here in Kansas City,” he said.

While he may currently spend more time coaching juniors, Gross is equally excited about the programming offered to adults.

“We have a lot going on with our adults: programming, leagues and teams,” he said. “We’re a smaller, tight-knit group, but we’re continuing to grow. And whatever you do, don’t mess with the ladies and their tennis.”

For Gross, seeing the joy and growth of his players — both juniors and adults — is what he enjoys most about coaching.

“I really enjoy watching juniors develop and knowing that they’re building a sport they can play for the rest of their lives,” he said. “The accolades, rankings and tournament results are really just a bonus.

“I also love seeing adults come into the facility, leave the stresses of everyday life at the door and just have fun playing tennis. That’s a pretty cool part of the job, too.”