A former player for the Vulcans, Chris Brunson enters his 13th season as an assistant coach with the Cal U baseball program in 2013.
Throughout his career, Brunson has coached 22 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West pitchers. In 2011, he coached All-American and two-time PSAC West Pitcher of the Year Randy Sturgill, who set single-season school records with 10 wins and 107 strikeouts as a senior. Sturgill also broke the all-time school record for victories before signing with the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League. In his first season in professional baseball, Sturgill finished with a 6-1 record and a 3.33 ERA in 16 appearances (seven starts).
Brunson made an instant impact when joining the coaching staff in 2001, as the Vulcans led the conference in ERA during his first season. The following year, hurler Ryan Balan led NCAA Division II with a 0.91 ERA in 60.0 innings and was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year.
Under BrunsonÕs tutelage, pitcher Ian Heisel posted a career-high eight wins in 2004 to help lead Cal U to its first PSAC Tournament Championship in 25 years. He has also coached three-time All-PSAC West selection Chris Doerschner, who finished his career as the schoolÕs all-time leader in innings pitched.
Brunson was a two-year player for the Vulcans and received captain status his senior season. As a junior in 1999, he led the pitching staff in both ERA and innings pitched before posting five wins as a senior.
A native of Greensburg, Pa., Brunson earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Cal U in 2000. He later completed his masterÕs degree in 2002, majoring in Geography and Regional Planning.
He currently resides in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., with his wife Heather and their three daughters, Haylie, Krista and Kendra.
