Fred Buster Gross

Fred "Buster" Gross was a native of Gadsden, Alabama and a graduate of Emma Sansom High School. He was a standout football player with the Rebels during his playing days. Coach Gross began his career as a football player, increasing his love for the game until a injury forced him off the field during his sophomore year as an Auburn Tiger. He would go on to receive his degree from Auburn before embarking upon his coaching career. After receiving his Bachelors Degree from Auburn in 1957, Coach Gross accepted his first head coach position in 1959 at Southside High School in Gadsden, but a mediocre first season record of 4-6 led him to step away from coaching for other pursuits with retailer J.C. Pennys. Gross love for the game of football made his coaching departure short. Coach Gross returned to coaching at Alma Hinson Junior High School for two years before leaving for the head coach position at Walnut Grove. In three seasons he led the Tigers football team to an exceptional 20-9-1 record, a regional state championship by the Birmingham News, and received State Class A Coach of the Year honors in 1965. Next on Coach Grosss agenda was Arab High School in Marshall County. His teams, for the next six years, won five county championships and had two teams to lose only one game. His record at Arab was 46-17-6. Gross returned to his alma mater, Emma Sansom, in 1973. Coach Gross sculpted winners out of the football program, amassing a record of 124-74-4 in 18 seasons. His Rebel teams qualified made ten state playoff appearances, and won eight area and region titles. His 1984 squad won the Class 3A State Championship with a 15-0 record and a 10-7 win over Greenville in the championship game. Gross overall football coaching record is 194-106-11. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.