TJ Bruce Named Associate Head Coach
7/6/2022 9:03:00 AM | Baseball
Bruce spent last seven seasons as Head Coach at Nevada
FORT WORTH – TCU baseball head coach Kirk Saarloos has announced the hiring of T.J. Bruce as Associate Head Coach. Bruce joins the program after spending the last seven seasons as the head coach at Nevada.
"We are excited to welcome TJ Bruce and his wonderful family to Fort Worth and TCU," said Saarloos. "TJ has an extensive resume of developing players in every area of the game. His ability to develop players on and off the field made him an ideal fit as our new Associate Head Coach. His background as a head coach brings another layer of added value to our program.
Fort Worth and TCU will love TJ and his family!"
Hired in the summer of 2015, Bruce produced a 171-168 (.504) overall record in his time at Nevada, guiding the Wolf Pack to the 2018 and 2021 Mountain West Conference regular season titles. In both seasons, Bruce was voted the MW Coach of the Year. The team qualified for all five Mountain West Conference Tournaments held during his tenure in addition to an appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
"I want to thank Kirk and TCU for this special opportunity of joining the TCU baseball program," said Bruce. "TCU is one of the premiere baseball programs in the country and Kirk is one the best baseball coaches in the country on and off the field. There is no better person to work alongside then Coach Saarloos."
Bruce produced 29 all-conference selections, including three Of The Year honorees. Nine members of the Wolf Pack have been drafted since 2016. On four occasions, Nevada ranked in the Top 20 nationally in batting average. In three of those seasons, the Wolf Pack ranked in the Top 10 (2016 – 9th; 2021 – 6th; 2022 – 7th). In 2021, Dillan Shrum's .468 average was second nationally.
Prior to his time at Nevada, Bruce was the top assistant at UCLA from 2011-15. The Bruins produced a 198-102-1 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament four times and winning the 2013 National Championship. UCLA took home a trio of Pac-12 titles (2011, 2012 and 2015) and served as a Regional host four times and advanced to the College World Series twice (2012, 2013). The Bruins produced three first round draft picks and ultimately 13 Major Leaguers during his tenure.
Bruce made the move to UCLA after five seasons as an assistant coach at Long Beach State. He helped the 49ers to NCAA Regional appearances in 2005 as an undergraduate assistant coach. After a one year stint as an assistant coach at Cerritos College, Bruce returned to Long Beach State as a fulltime assistant coach in 2007. The 49ers made a trio of postseason appearances (2005, 2007 and 2008) in his time on staff.
While at Long Beach State, Bruce worked with the development of All-Big West Conference selections Troy Tulowitski (2003-05), Evan Longoria (2005-06), Danny Espinosa (2007), Matt Duffy (2010) and Devin Lohman (2010) while at LBSU. Tulowitski (Blue Jays), Longoria (Rays), Espinosa (Rays) and Duffy (Rays) went on to have Major League careers.
In his one season as assistant coach at Cerritos College in 2006, he helped the Falcons to the Southern California College playoffs. Cerritos finished the season 27-17 and tied for second in the South Coast Conference. Two of his players were selected in the 2006 MLB draft.
Bruce wrapped up his playing career in 2004 at Long Beach State where he helped lead the 49ers to the an NCAA Super Regional appearance. He transferred to Long Beach State after spending his junior year at Texas Tech in 2003. He started his collegiate career at Cerritos College where he earned All-South Coast Conference in 2001 and 2002. Cerritos advanced to the postseason both years.
Bruce and his wife, Heather, have two daughters; Rhowan and Harloe, and two sons, Jaxon and Nash.
"We are excited to welcome TJ Bruce and his wonderful family to Fort Worth and TCU," said Saarloos. "TJ has an extensive resume of developing players in every area of the game. His ability to develop players on and off the field made him an ideal fit as our new Associate Head Coach. His background as a head coach brings another layer of added value to our program.
Fort Worth and TCU will love TJ and his family!"
Hired in the summer of 2015, Bruce produced a 171-168 (.504) overall record in his time at Nevada, guiding the Wolf Pack to the 2018 and 2021 Mountain West Conference regular season titles. In both seasons, Bruce was voted the MW Coach of the Year. The team qualified for all five Mountain West Conference Tournaments held during his tenure in addition to an appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
"I want to thank Kirk and TCU for this special opportunity of joining the TCU baseball program," said Bruce. "TCU is one of the premiere baseball programs in the country and Kirk is one the best baseball coaches in the country on and off the field. There is no better person to work alongside then Coach Saarloos."
Bruce produced 29 all-conference selections, including three Of The Year honorees. Nine members of the Wolf Pack have been drafted since 2016. On four occasions, Nevada ranked in the Top 20 nationally in batting average. In three of those seasons, the Wolf Pack ranked in the Top 10 (2016 – 9th; 2021 – 6th; 2022 – 7th). In 2021, Dillan Shrum's .468 average was second nationally.
Prior to his time at Nevada, Bruce was the top assistant at UCLA from 2011-15. The Bruins produced a 198-102-1 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament four times and winning the 2013 National Championship. UCLA took home a trio of Pac-12 titles (2011, 2012 and 2015) and served as a Regional host four times and advanced to the College World Series twice (2012, 2013). The Bruins produced three first round draft picks and ultimately 13 Major Leaguers during his tenure.
Bruce made the move to UCLA after five seasons as an assistant coach at Long Beach State. He helped the 49ers to NCAA Regional appearances in 2005 as an undergraduate assistant coach. After a one year stint as an assistant coach at Cerritos College, Bruce returned to Long Beach State as a fulltime assistant coach in 2007. The 49ers made a trio of postseason appearances (2005, 2007 and 2008) in his time on staff.
While at Long Beach State, Bruce worked with the development of All-Big West Conference selections Troy Tulowitski (2003-05), Evan Longoria (2005-06), Danny Espinosa (2007), Matt Duffy (2010) and Devin Lohman (2010) while at LBSU. Tulowitski (Blue Jays), Longoria (Rays), Espinosa (Rays) and Duffy (Rays) went on to have Major League careers.
In his one season as assistant coach at Cerritos College in 2006, he helped the Falcons to the Southern California College playoffs. Cerritos finished the season 27-17 and tied for second in the South Coast Conference. Two of his players were selected in the 2006 MLB draft.
Bruce wrapped up his playing career in 2004 at Long Beach State where he helped lead the 49ers to the an NCAA Super Regional appearance. He transferred to Long Beach State after spending his junior year at Texas Tech in 2003. He started his collegiate career at Cerritos College where he earned All-South Coast Conference in 2001 and 2002. Cerritos advanced to the postseason both years.
Bruce and his wife, Heather, have two daughters; Rhowan and Harloe, and two sons, Jaxon and Nash.
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