Kris Groce joined the Taft College Women’s Basketball staff as an assistant coach this season. This year is his 8^th season coaching collegiate athletics.

Groce has coached or played at the Division I, Division II, NAIA, and Junior College levels during his career, winning big at nearly every stop. Before joining the staff at Taft College, he 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). Despite the Wildcats being limited to only six games during the pandemic, Groce was able to make an immediate impact on the academic success of student athletes within the program. In 2020-2021, the Men's Basketball Team at CWU won the GNAC Academic All-Sports Championship for the first time in the history of the program. Following the lost season, the Wildcats reached the GNAC Championship Game in 2021-2022. It was CWU’s first appearance in the title game since 2011.

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 been associated with programs that featured 12 All-Conference players, two Newcomer of the Year honorees, one Defensive Player of the Year, one Player of the Year, two NAIA All-Americans and 13 National Scholar-Athlete recipients.

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.