The Copper Mountain College Fighting Cacti boast a 39-17 (.696) overall record during the past two seasons with Kris Groce at the helm.

 In 2025-2026, Groce led the women’s basketball team to a 25-3 overall record and a 12-2 mark in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. The Lady Cacti began the season 13-0, which was the best start in school history. During the historic run, Copper Mountain College Women’s Basketball earned its highest state ranking in program history (#10 in the 3C2A), while leading the state in scoring at 91.1 points per contest, the highest scoring average of any team in the California Community College Athletic Association since 2016-2017. In conference play, CMC’s average margin of victory was 49.4 points per contest (12 games), while averaging 97.1 points per game, marking the highest scoring average in the history of the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. Groce led the women’s basketball team to its first playoff appearance in program history. 

 Coach Groce was officially named the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Copper Mountain College in August of 2024. After inheriting the program with one player on the roster, the Fighting Cacti completed the season with a 14-14 overall record. This was the first season that the women's basketball program at CMC did not finish with a losing record. On the floor, the Fighting Cacti set the single season record for most wins in the history of the program in 2024-2025. Off the floor, Maya Estrada and Kinzey Hutchings earned Academic All-State Honors.

 Prior to CMC, Groce spent one season at Taft College. 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 program's 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 16 All-Conference players, one Newcomer of the Year, one Defensive Player of the Year, one Conference Player of the Year, two NAIA All-Americans and 38 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/coaches/Kris_Groce