Mahoney-Bruer Named Head Baseball Coach

Pirate head baseball coach Cole Mahoney-Bruer has had the "Interim" tag removed from his title. Mahoney-Bruer, who will enter his sixth season in the VC dugout in the spring, served as the interim head coach during last spring's covid-shortened campaign after four years as an assistant. He has played a role in helping 55 Pirate baseball players transfer to four-year schools, including 15 to NCAA Division I, during his time with the orange and black. He was the lead assistant for VC's 2019 Western State Conference championship team.

Mahoney-Bruer was a former Junior College player who went on to play four year college baseball. Beginning his college career at Burlington County College in New Jersey, Mahoney-Bruer was a two-year standout outfielder he was awarded a Gold Glove during his sophomore season while also being selected as All-Conference, All-State and All-District in the same year. He earned a scholarship offer to the University of Buffalo an NCAA division 1 school. Following a redshirt season as part of the Buffalo program, he decided to transfer to Graceland University an NAIA school in Iowa for the 2010-11 seasons. While at Graceland, Mahoney-Bruer was a two-year starter in the outfield and one of the top hitters in the program for each of those seasons. 

Mahoney-Bruer joined the Pirate staff after two prior stops as a college coach or intern. In 2012 Mahoney-Bruer served as a student assistant at Graceland University, his alma mater, following the completion of his playing career as he finished his Bachelors degree. Mahoney-Bruer was responsible for the Graceland outfielders development during practices, while additionally assisting in the development of the programs hitters. In 2015 Mahoney-Bruer served as a graduate intern with the Pepperdine Waves baseball program at the NCAA division 1 level. While on staff Mahoney-Bruer was able to observe and aide in the programs practices, pre-game strategy meetings and assist in the information development process for the coaching staff and players. As well, Mahoney-Bruer helped in the daily maintenance of the Pepperdine playing facility and worked with players in drills designed and implemented by the coaching staff.

Mahoney-Bruer additionally has experience working in high school baseball. From 2013-14 he was the head freshmen baseball coach at Oaks Christian High School. While there he worked with several Oaks Christian players who have gone on to four year colleges and are currently committed to four year schools. He was tasked with implementing varsity level concepts to his freshmen players to best prepare them for becoming varsity athletes, while additionally competing to win a league title. In 2015, Mahoney-Bruer was selected to serve as a head coach as part of the Southwest Future All-Star series. Where he was responsible for identifying, recruiting and showcasing players around Southern California by managing their team and coordinating the line-ups and pitching rotations. Additionally, during the 2013 season Mahoney-Bruer served as an assistant coach with the Oaks Christian varsity baseball team which won the CIF-SS championship and had eventual first round draft pick Phil Bickford with two of this three outfielders earning the opportunity to play NCAA D1 baseball.

Beyond his experience in college baseball and high school baseball Mahoney-Bruer has extensive experience as a private instructor and travel ball coach. From 2005-07 while in his native Canada, Mahoney-Bruer served as a hitting instructor for the Frozen Ropes Baseball Academy working with athletes from ages 8-18. In summers 2009-10 Mahoney-Bruer was an instructor for the Northern All-Stars Baseball Camp in his native Canada, he was primarily in charge of the outfield instruction and working with the camps hitters on their swing mechanics. In the summers from 2011-2014 Mahoney-Bruer was tasked as the lead hitting instructor for the Oaks Baseball Academy and served as an assistant coach for their summer and fall High School travel teams. From 2013-14 he served as the head coach of the Oaks Baseball Academy 12-U and 13-U teams for their fall and summer schedules.

Mahoney-Bruer lives in Camarillo with his wife Lauren.