Darryl Bruce is in his fifth season at the Mount after serving the previous six years as an assistant coach under former Mount St. Mary’s player Cliff Warren (C’ 90) at Jacksonville University. A DeMatha High School graduate, Bruce brings a wealth of Division I coaching experience to the Mount as he is entering his 24th season as a Division I assistant.
At the Mount, his responsibilities include coordinating the staff recruiting efforts, monitoring academic progress of current student-athletes and all prospective recruits, game preparation/scouting future opponents with a concentration on personnel and opponents press breaks, and the development of post and perimeter players.
During his time at Jacksonville, Bruce was responsible for working primarily with the post players, recruiting, game preparation and coaching while also coordinating scheduling of future opponents. The Dolphins won back-to-back Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championships and advanced to the postseason in three of the six years Bruce was there. He also helped mentor five All-Rookie team selections, a two time Defensive Player of the Year and three All-Conference performers, including 3 time first teamer Ben Smith, who finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in steals & assist and the second all-time leader in scoring.
Bruce was an assistant coach at Hampton, where the team advanced to a pair of MEAC championship game appearances. In addition, he helped coach seven All-MEAC players in his time at Hampton, including Devin Green, who went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Also under his tutelage, Hampton had the 2005 NCAA Division I individual leader in field goal percentage, Bruce Brown.
Prior to Hampton, Bruce spent a pair of seasons at Northeast Conference rival Wagner College. He helped guide the Seahawks to the NIT in 2002, the school’s first postseason appearance in 23 years. He also helped develop Jermaine Hall, who was the NEC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year during his time at Wagner.
Before coaching at Wagner, Bruce spent three years as the top assistant at Howard University. At Howard, Bruce's responsibilities included recruiting prospective student-athletes, scheduling, academic counseling, team travel and acting as a liaison with on-campus departments. While there, he coached an all-conference and two all-rookie team selections. He also recruited Ron Williamson, who went on to become the MEAC Player of the Year and one of the top scorers in school history.
Prior to Howard, Bruce assisted then head coach Mike Brey and the Blue Hen staff at Delaware with game day coaching, practice coordination and acted as the academic liaison. He also was heavily involved in the recruitment and development of one of the most successful classes in Delaware history. A class that would produce four starters on back-to-back conference championship and NCAA Tournament teams, including Mike Pegues, who would go on to become a three-time first team all-league player, conference player of the year, and the school's all-time leading scorer.
Bruce came to Delaware after a one- year stint as an assistant coach at University of Maryland-Eastern Shore where he served during the 1992-93 season under head coach Rob Chavez. He was responsible for scouting, recruiting and community relations. While at UMES, Bruce was instrumental in improving the Hawks to a 12-15 mark in 1992-93, an improvement of nine wins from the previous season. The 12 victories were the most by the school in more than 10 seasons.
Bruce began his coaching career at his alma mater Towson as a student assistant under then head coach Terry Truax. He helped guide the Tigers to the East Coast Conference Title in 1989-90 and the school's first NCAA appearance in Division I. The Tigers were led by Kurk Lee, a two-time conference player of the year who went on to play for the New Jersey Nets.
Following graduation in 1990, Bruce moved to Bladensburg (Md.) High School where he served as assistant varsity and head junior varsity boy's basketball coach for two seasons. While at Bladensburg, he helped lead the Mustangs to two Maryland state playoff appearances. He has also worked numerous camps over the years including The Mason Dixon basketball camp.
Bruce resides in Frederick and is the proud father of a daughter, Amaya.
