Entering his first season as an assistant coach with the Falcons, Bruce is no stranger to Cerritos College baseball. He played for the Falcons in 2001-02 and was an All-South Coast Conference Honorable Mention selection both seasons. He then moved on to Texas Tech University to play his junior season before closing out his collegiate playing career at Long Beach State. Last season, Bruce served as a graduate assistant with the 49’ers.

          While with the Falcons, Bruce batted .312 with 30 RBI, 44 hits, 35 runs scored and 16 stolen bases his sophomore season, as the team advanced to the Southern California Regional Playoffs both years. While at Texas Tech University, he ranked fifth on the team with a .321 batting average, with 44 hits, 38 RBI and 11 doubles. Always a solid defensive player, Bruce recorded a .988 fielding percentage with the Red Raiders. For Long Beach State his senior year, Bruce started 31 games in the infield, with 21 of them coming at second base.

          Bruce prepped at St. John Bosco High and as a senior he was named one of the top prep shortstops in California by Collegiate Baseball Magazine after batting .450 with two home runs and 33 RBI his junior season. He was a two-time Press Telegram Dream Team selection, as well as a two-time All-Serra League pick.