Kris Groce has been named the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Copper Mountain College for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Coach Groce has nearly a decade of experience coaching collegiate athletics at various levels.
Groce joined the coaching staff at Taft College in 2023. In 2023-2024, the women’s basketball program at Taft College had the best turnaround record in the state of California, tied the record for most wins in the history of the program and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs for the first time in over a decade. The roster possessed four all conference players and four all-academic scholar athletes, which resulted in six sophomores moving on to four-year institutions on athletic scholarships. Celicia Enos, a transfer guard/forward, was voted First Team All-Conference after leading the team in scoring and minutes played. Enos played for Groce previously at Wenatchee Valley College.
Before joining the staff at Taft College, Groce spent 2022-2023 as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Wenatchee Valley College. After inheriting a program with one player on the roster, Groce recruited a group that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NWAC Tournament, which was the programs fourth tournament appearance since 2008. A total of three individuals served as the Athletic Director from July of 2022 to May of 2023. Despite the turnover, Groce established a culture within the program that was able to succeed amidst the uncertainty of the athletic department. Groce also served as the Assistant Athletic Director during his tenure at Wenatchee Valley College.
From 2020 to 2022, Groce spent two seasons as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Central Washington University (NCAA Division Il). During the 2021-2022 season, the Wildcats were the highest scoring (82.7ppg) & most efficient (50%) team in the GNAC. The Wildcats reached the GNAC Championship game for the first time since 2011 and were ranked as high as #4 in the West Region during the regular season. Xavier Smith was voted the GNAC Player of the Year and received NABC All-West Region and D2CCA First Team All-Region honors. In the classroom, the Wildcats won the GNAC Academic Conference Championship for the third consecutive season.
From 2013 to 2020, Groce served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at California State University, Monterey Bay (NCAA Division II) and Eastern Oregon University (NAIA). During his coaching career, Groce has recruited and/or coached 12 All-Conference players, one Newcomer of the Year, one Defensive Player of the Year, one Player of the Year, two NAIA All-Americans and 36 All-Academic honorees.
As a player, Groce played three seasons at the NCAA Division 1 level with stops at University of Hawaii and California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State). Prior to his senior season, Groce transferred to Eastern Oregon University. In one season at EOU, Groce received NAIA All-American honors while playing a key role in the Mountaineers’ run to the NAIA Elite Eight, which remains the best finish in the history of the program.
Groce earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Central Washington University in August of 2023.
https://coppermountain.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/releases/20240731occess
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