Former Murrieta Mesa championship coach now a Nighthawk
MURRIETA — The athletic department at Murrieta Valley High School announced the hiring of Bryn Wade as the school’s new head varsity baseball coach Tuesday, May 17. It has been nearly six years since Wade has coached high school baseball in the area, but will be heading to Murrieta Valley with a highly decorated coaching resume.
Wade has been involved with baseball both as a player and coach for over 25 years, starting his coaching career at Biola University in 1998. He spent the next 12 years at Downey High School as a varsity assistant before taking the head job at Lakeside High School in 2012.
“We are thrilled to have Coach Wade leading our baseball program,” stated Murrieta Valley High School Athletic Director, Darin Mott. “He is not only a quality baseball coach, but he is a quality man. Our players are going to benefit tremendously from his leadership.”
In 2014, Wade became the head baseball coach at Murrieta Mesa High School and led the Rams through the 2016 CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, beating Harvard Westlake 3-2, for the championship. It would the first CIF-SS title for any sport in the school’s brief history. That year he was also named LA Times Coach of the Year and ABCA Regional Coach of the year (American Baseball Coaches Association).
In two seasons, the Rams went 41-21 under Wade and made a huge jump in the challenging Southwestern League from 4-11 in 2015 to 12-3 in 2016, also winning the programs first-ever league title that year.
Baseball is in Bryn Wade’s blood as he is also a third cousin of Jackie Robinson and was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 1998, playing in the organization until 2000. Currently, Wade is an English teacher in the district and was a double major in Biblical Studies and English at Biola.
“Having been a part of the travel baseball community for the past few years, I’m finally at a spot where I am certain that my own kids will be okay with my coaching high school versus coaching them,” added Wade. “The time I will have with them will be our time rather than shared time.”
Murrieta Valley took fourth place in the Southwestern League this year, failing to make the playoffs with an “at-large” bid due to not having a wining record. Overall, the Nighthawks were 10-16, and 5-10 in league play.
“The administration is great at Murrieta Valley High School.” stated Wade. “The opportunity to help kids live out their dreams in an area that God has designed me for is something that I would regret not pursuing. My whole life has been orchestrated to do this.”
The baseball program at Murrieta Valley has not had a winning season since 2018, when they took second place in the Southwestern League and advanced to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. Wade will be replacing Scott May, who took over for the Nighthawks in 2020, prior to the season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Murrieta Valley needs its tradition revived,” says Wade. “With four big leaguers right now, and the heart of the program for the past 21 years, Monte Jones, in its corner, along with our staff, we will again be a powerhouse.”
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
