Denny Bruckert (Gillespie, Ill.), who was instrumental in the development of men’s fast pitch softball and coached the Men’s National Team program, passed away on Thursday, May 2. Bruckert led the Men’s National Team from August, 2013 until stepping away from the program in August of 2017 due to health concerns.
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“When you talk about influential and genuine people in the men’s fast pitch game, Coach Bruckert is one of the first names to come to mind,†said USA Softball Chief Executive Officer, Craig Cress. “His love for the game and the players he coached was unrivaled and he was greatly respected within the fast pitch community for his passion and commitment to the game. The impact that Coach Bruckert made will forever be felt by those within the USA Softball program. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Susan, his family, friends and all those who were fortunate to play for him or coach at his side.â€Â
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During his time as Head Coach of the program, Bruckert played a key role in developing men’s fast pitch through his work coaching on the National Team in addition to hosting a series of exposure camps and National Invitational Tournaments (NITs) throughout the United States. During Bruckert’s time at the helm of the program, the MNT finished with a combined record of 16-10 at the 2013, 2015 and 2017 WBSC Men’s World Championships.
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Prior to becoming Head Coach, Bruckert served as an assistant coach at the 1996 International Softball Federation (ISF), now WBSC, Men's World Championship where the team finished fourth, as well as the 1999 Pan American Games, where the team earned a silver medal. Before joining the National Team program, Bruckert coached seven USA Softball Men's Major Fast Pitch National Championship squads. He coached the Decatur Pride to back-to-back National Championships in 1994 and 1995 and added another in 1999 prior to the team's disbanding. Bruckert added another three Men's Major Fast Pitch titles to his resume: in 2002 with the St. Joseph Frontier Casino Players, in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Smokers, in 2006 with the Green Bay Circle Tap, and in 2012 with the New York Gremlins. Bruckert was first inducted into the USA Softball of Illinois Hall of Fame before becoming a member of the National Softball Hall of Fame in 2012.
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At the time of his resignation, current Head Coach Gregg Leather (Staten Island, N.Y.) said, “Denny has been a mentor to me for a long time and we will work hard to continue the progress he has made with the program.†|
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