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Campbell University

Campbell University Athletics
 P.O. Box 10 Buies Creek, NC 27506
Division 1 North Carolina Southeast
Private Medium National competitor
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Jeff Gross

Jeff Gross was named head women’s soccer coach at Campbell University in January 2022.


Gross led the Camels to a Big South regular season title in his first season at the helm in 2022. Campbell finished with an overall record of 11-3-4 and went unbeaten in conference play with a mark of 7-0-2, earning the top seed for the Big South Championship.


Seven Camels earned Big South honors at the end of the regular season. Jessica Donald was named Big South Offensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to earn both awards in the same season. Laney Peabody was named Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Camel in program history to earn the honor. Jackie Richards, Reagan Baiotto and Delaney Baumbick joined Donald and Peabody on the Big South First Team while Elyssa Nowowieski and Olivia Neal were named to the second team.


Under Gross, Campbell led the Big South in several statistical categories including assists per game (2.67), points per game (7.22), shots per game (15.78), total assists (48) and win-loss percentage (0.722).


Gross, who brings three decades of coaching experience on the Division I, club and professional level, joins the Fighting Camel program after spending the last eight seasons – including the last two as associate head coach – on the staff at UNC Greensboro.


“At the end of a national search, Coach Gross stood out as the best candidate to lead our women’s soccer team,” said Dr. Banks. “I would like to thank everyone that was involved in the process, and the incredible patience our young ladies displayed as we went through the interviews. I’m definitely looking forward to getting Coach on campus and welcome him to our family.”


While at UNCG, Gross helped guide the Spartans to back-to-back Southern Conference championships and NCAA College Cup appearances in 2017 and 2018. He helped develop the 2018 SoCon player of the year Cienna Rideout and two SoCon freshman of the year award recipients – Nicole Souply (2018) and Caylin Prillaman (2015).


“I want to thank President Dr. J. Bradley Creed, Director of Athletics Dr. Omar Banks, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Hannah Bazemore for the distinct honor and opportunity to lead the Campbell University women’s soccer program,” said Gross. “This is an incredible moment in my life to steward this successful program as the next head coach. Honoring the work that has been done leading us all to this point and doing the best work I can to help these young women enhance their legacy is an endeavor I embrace.”


Gross takes over a program that is coming off consecutive trips to the Big South Conference championship game as well as an appearance in the 2020-21 NCAA tournament.


The 2021 Camels finished 12-4-2 overall and 9-1-0 in the Big South to win the program’s first regular season title since 2004. Campbell finished seventh nationally in scoring (2.78 goals per game), third in assists (3.06) and fourth in points (8.61) per outing. The Camels return All-Southeast Region forwards Jessica Donald and Jackie Richards.


“Each person I met along this path, and in particular the players, made it clear the priorities of the university, the athletic department and for the women’s soccer program,” said Gross. “Throughout the process it became abundantly clear Campbell is a special place!”


At UNCG, Gross’ responsibilities included serving as recruiting coordinator as well as assisting in all aspects of the Spartans program. In addition, he was Executive Director of the Burlington Soccer Club from 2017-21.


Prior to his arrival at UNCG, Gross served as Director of Coaching for the East Meadow Soccer Club in Long Island, New York from 2009-14. While at East Meadow, his teams won a pair of state cup championships and advanced to the regional premier league final four. He was also responsible for the club gaining membership to the Elite Clubs National League, which is currently one of the top youth soccer leagues in the country.


Gross worked five years as the Director of Coaching at the Football Club Frederick (Md.) from 2004-2009. During his tenure at Frederick, he guided the U-16 Girls team to a Maryland State Cup Championship and a Region I finals appearance.


He also served as Associate Director of Coaching at the Capital Area Soccer League in Raleigh (2001-02) where he led his team to a state cup title and as Director of Coaching at the Thunder Soccer Club.


From 1994 through 2004, Gross was a head coach in the Maryland Olympic Development Program and led the U-16 squad to a ODP National Championship finals appearance in 2000. His U-15 team was a Region I champion in 1999.


His coaching resume also includes a season as head coach of the Maryland Pride, which won the 2001 USL W-League Eastern Division title and reached the national final four.


Gross played his collegiate soccer career at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he was a four-year letter winner and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1991. Gross holds the USSF “A” license and the NSCAA “Premier Diploma” and the US Soccer National Youth License.

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Todd Herman

Todd Herman joined the Fighting Camel program in March 2022 after spending the last 12 seasons at Western Carolina, where he served as associate head coach since 2014.


“Adding someone of Todd’s experience and quality to this program is an asset for the players here at Campbell,” said head coach Jeff Gross. “This is an ambitious group of women who love to train and play. Todd has an infectious love of the game that translates to these players’ desire for a growth mindset environment, which has been well-established the past several years within the program. This is a good time to be a Camel women’s soccer player!”


Involved in all aspects of the Catamount program, Herman worked closely with the WCU goalkeepers. While in Cullowhee, Herman helped develop Western Carolina into a consistent contender in the Southern Conference.


He was involved in all phases of the Catamount daily activities, including recruiting, practice and game day strategies, fund raising, budgeting, summer camps, team travel and purchasing. During his tenure at WCU, the Catamounts consistently posted a team GPA of 3.5 or higher.


Herman joins a Fighting Camel program that is coming off consecutive trips to the Big South Conference championship game as well as an appearance in the 2020-21 NCAA tournament.


The 2021 Camels finished 12-4-2 overall and 9-1-0 in the Big South to win the program’s first regular season title since 2004. Campbell finished seventh nationally in scoring (2.78 goals per game), third in assists (3.06) and fourth in points (8.61) per outing. The Camels return All-Southeast Region forwards Jessica Donald and Jackie Richards.


Herman brings two decades of collegiate and club coaching experience to Campbell. His previous stops on the collegiate level include Richmond, UNC Charlotte, Davidson and his alma mater, Pfeiffer.


In addition, he has served as coach on the club level with the U.S. Soccer Academy Richmond Strikers and North Meck SC. He also spent time as head coach and director of coaching with the U.S. Development Academy South Charlotte Soccer Association.


His experience also includes a stint as assistant coach with the NC Olympic Development Program and Director of Coaching for the North Meck Soccer Club.


He also served as head coach at Providence High School in Charlotte, where he was named 4-A regional coach of the year in 2007.


A 1991 graduate of Pfeiffer with a B.A. in sports management, Herman was a four-year starter and two-time first-team all-conference performer for the Falcons. He went on to play professionally in the USISL from 1993-95.


Herman holds the USSF “A” license and NSCAA premier diploma.

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Ashley Meade

Meade joined the Fighting Camel program as an assistant coach in May 2022 after spending the previous year as Director of Operations for the University of South Florida women’s soccer program.


“When I set out on the task to provide a quality staff for the women of this program, there have been distinct characteristics wanted in each person on the staff,” said head coach Jeff Gross. “This profession requires people who care about the craft and have the authenticity to be a high-level teacher of the game. Ashley has decided coaching is her path and has already worked diligently to start building her foundation. She is yet another quality person added to the program, with a strong work ethic. She is a great fit for the players and the staff and has hit the ground flying - as expected when you want to be great at your craft.”


A 2021 USF graduate, Meade played four years for the Bulls and was a member of five American Athletic Conference title winning teams that made four NCAA postseason appearances. Upon graduation, she joined the USF staff and in her director of operations role, assisted with game day management, practice, tournament operations and daily management of the program. USF won the 2021 AAC regular season title and advanced to the NCAA College Cup during her tenure.


“I want to thank head coach Jeff Gross, Todd Herman, Matt Holmes, and Campbell Women’s Soccer for allowing me to be a part of a program that has shown me in a short amount of time how special it is,” said Meade. “It is a great time to be a Camel! Roll Humps!”


In addition to her responsibilities at USF, Meade served as a U17 girls head coach with Florida Premier FC and Director of Camps for the National College ID Camp/Bulls Soccer Camps. She also served as Director of Soccer at Tampa Preparatory High School.


Meade joins a Fighting Camel program that is coming off consecutive trips to the Big South Conference championship game as well as an appearance in the 2020-21 NCAA tournament.


The 2021 Camels finished 12-4-2 overall and 9-1-0 in the Big South to win the program’s first regular season title since 2004. Campbell finished seventh nationally in scoring (2.78 goals per game), third in assists (3.06) and fourth in points (8.61) per outing. The Camels return All-Southeast Region forwards Jessica Donald and Jackie Richards.


Holder of the US Soccer D License, and USSF Technical Training Diploma, Meade is a Mental Performance Mastery (MPM) Certified Coach.


She graduated from USF with a B.S. in mass communications with a specialization in public relations and advertising and a minor in leadership.


A native of Wall Township, N.J., Meade played club soccer for the NJ Wildcats Lady Strikers and also played with the NJ Wildcats in the W-League (2015) and WPSL (2016).

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