George Gross Jr. was the Blues men’s water polo coach from 1987 to 1989 and guided the team to consistently impressive records. For the next 10 years, he assumed general manager duties for both the Blues men’s and women’s water polo teams, playing a key role in recruiting and fundraising. He also keeps the Blues competitive year-round by recruiting them to compete with his club team outside of the intercollegiate season.
George assumed the role of head coach of the Varsity Blues women’s water polo program in 2008 and quickly put the program back on the map. The Toronto native guided the Blues from two winless seasons to an OUA championship title in 2008 and followed that up with an OUA silver medal finish in 2009.
George is no stranger to winning, both as a player and as a coach. He has been the bench boss for nine men’s water polo national titles during his tenure as Canada’s head coach (1987-91, 1994-96). As a player, he is a 13-time Canadian first team all-star, has won two bronze medals over five Pan American Game appearances, has competed in three world championships and is a two-time Olympian (1976, 1984).
He still holds the University of Toronto single-game and seasons scoring records and has been inducted into the U of T Sports, Ontario Aquatics, USA Collegiate Water Polo, Etobicoke Sports and Yale Water Polo Hall of Fames.
Off the pool deck, George is the president of G Squared Licensing and resides in Toronto with wife, Veronica.
