H.S. SOFTBALL: TCA names Brunet head coach

One of the top high school softball programs in the state now has a new head coach.

Trinity Christian Academy, winner of four state championships between 2006-10, has hired Dr. Matt Brunet as the new head coach.

Brunet is a faculty member at Union University as an assistant professor of Sports Management. He has served as an assistant baseball and softball coach during his tenure there.

“After learning under Coach [Heather] Hall at Union for the last two years, I learned a lot, and I felt the Lord wanted me to accept a new challenge as head coach,” Brunet said. “I wanted to find that opportunity to coach, but still teach full-time at Union.”

Brunet becomes the second Union professor to teach at the university and coach a sport at TCA – the other is TCA volleyball coach Kelly Elliott.

“I was looking for a program with talent that took athletics seriously,” Brunet said. “The softball program at TCA is rich in tradition. I also wanted to go to a school that I could partner with in ministry. TCA takes athletics very seriously, but they also want to mentor the kids spiritually.”

TCA missed the Class A state tournament for the first time in ten years this past season, but Brunet does not see the pressure as a negative.

“I want to have success wherever I am at,” he said. “There is more pressure in this program after four state championships, but that means they are used to winning. They are going to be eager to get back. There should be more support from the community and parents, and the players should want to get back there. They will be ready to put in the work. I think that is a positive more than a negative.”

Softball season is still eight months away, but Brunet is ready to start with things now.

“In the next couple of months, I want to start building relationships and building trust,” he said. “I want to create excitement around the program, so that people will come out and support it.

“Then there is the strength and conditioning. I am a former strength and conditioning coach, so I know what it takes to be prepared for the season.”

Brunet replaces Josh Zettergren, who served as head coach for one season. Zettergren will remain as an assistant football coach and teacher at TCA.

Michael Odom, 425-9754