Union University recently announced Brance Rivera as the new assistant coach to the men’s baseball team. He joins head coach Lee Driggers in leading the team in the first full year of NCAA Division II eligibility, an opportunity he says he is very excited about.
“Union is a great place – a great school with an awesome atmosphere,” said Rivera.
“I think that this transition into Division II was a very wise one by all of those who made it, because I think we, as a school, have the foundation, and we have all of the pieces together to be a very good Division II program,” added Rivera.
Rivera had not been to Tennessee before deciding to come to Union to coach. He says he knew he wanted to coach at a college, but he did not know where. He prayed about it, and the Lord led him and his wife to Union.
Rivera, an Iowa native, graduated from Texas Christian University in 2012, where he started all four years in the outfield. He then went on to Dallas Baptist University as a volunteer assistant coach, and then to assistant athletic director at Westminster Christian School in Elgin, Illinois.
“I am excited to have Brance on our staff at Union,” says head coach Lee Driggers.
“He brings to the program a wealth of playing experience as well as prior coaching experience at the Division I level. He is knowledgeable and enjoys teaching the game of baseball. What excites me most, though, is his genuine love for people and his Christian example,” Driggers added.
“Coming into a new year with a whole new coaching staff could have been difficult,” Rivera said.
“However, it hasn’t been. The guys are great. You can tell that they want to work hard, and they are willing to trust us, and Coach Driggers knows exactly what he is doing. He’s been in the situation before. He leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that he is the guy we want to follow. He is the guy that can lead us to where we want to be,” added Rivera.
The team anticipates a successful season, and they are confident that Rivera’s addition to the coaching staff will bring good things.
“He has experience at the Division I level and knows what it takes to win and to be a good team,” said Michael Flores, a senior physical education major and short stop for the Bulldogs.
“He really likes to interact with us, and he has great knowledge of the game,” Flores added.
“He’s a great coach, but he’s an even better person,” added Trae Bain, a junior exercise science major and pitcher for the Bulldogs.
