PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland baseball program has added Tucker Brack as an assistant coach, announced head coach Chris Sperry. Brack, who played collegiate baseball at Western Oregon University, was most recently an assistant coach and assistant Athletic Director at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash.
“This has been a great experience so far,” said Brack, who was also the head coach at Chemeketa Community College for four years. “With a lot of hard work, I think we have a great chance to do something special this year. Coach Sperry and coach Casian have been unbelievable.”
With the Pilots, Brack will coach the infielders, while assisting with the hitters and recruiting.
“Tucker brings a very strong background in the game, having grown up in a baseball family and spending much of his life around very good baseball people,” coach Sperry said. “He’s a grinder and a go-getter and he brings not only great information to our players, but the energy and passion with which to deliver it. I think he is very happy and excited to be a Pilot, and his impact on the program will most certainly be felt.”
Brack, who played second base at WOU, assisted with the middle infielders and hitters at Lower Columbia, where he was hired earlier this year. As the assistant AD, the native of Woodburn, Ore., handled game management responsibilities for all home events.
Prior to his stint at LCC, Brack was the head coach at Chemeketa in Salem, Ore., from 2004 until 2008. Under his guidance, the Storm improved its record each year, culminating with a 25-22 record during Brack’s final season. While in Salem, Brack posted an overall record of 87-97 and coached former UP pitcher and current Seattle Mariners minor leaguer Austin Bibens-Dirkx.
Brack spent two years at Western Oregon after beginning his collegiate career at Lower Columbia. As a senior in 2005, Brack was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, while also earning all-region honors. The Wolves won the conference title both years and advanced to regionals following his junior season in 2004. During his first season with the Wolves, Brack landed on the league’s first team and was named the GNAC’s Newcomer of the Year.
While at LCC, Brack was a two-time All-NWAACC selection.
Brack played his high school ball with former UP standout and current Washington National Kory Casto at North Marion High School in Aurora, Ore. While playing with the Huskies, who were coached by his father, Brack earned all-state honors all four years and was named Oregon’s 3A Player of the Year during his junior campaign. He helped the Huskies reach the state semifinals three times.
