SALEM, Ore. – Corban University Director of Athletics Marty Ziesemer and the Warrior Athletics department announced earlier this morning the resignation of Corban Baseball Head Ethan Bragg, effective at the end of the 2023 season. He and his wife, Abby, will be moving to the east coast later this year in June, as Abby has accepted a position within the Major League Soccer (MLS) organization that will base the Bragg family out of New York City.
"I want to start by saying thank you to all the players and their families who have entrusted me to lead them throughout this season," Bragg began with sharing on his departure. "When I took this job last spring, the players were at the forefront of my mind, and I can't tell you how blessed I've been to walk alongside them this year. It has helped me grow in so many ways and I hope that is true for them as well. I'd also like to thank my family and mentors for supporting me in my passion for coaching baseball. Lastly, I owe a huge thank you to my wife. She has supported me every step of my career and I wouldn't be where I am today without her."
Bragg continued with his thoughts by saying, "My wife recently accepted a new position within her organization that will require us to move to the east coast this summer. While leaving Corban will be bittersweet for us both, we are grateful and excited for the new opportunities that await us. I am confident in the foundation that we have established for Corban Baseball over the past six years, and I look forward to continuing to watch the program grow."
Bragg became the seventh head coach in the history of the Corban Baseball program back in April of 2022, following a four-year stint with the program under multiple titles that included Assistant Coach, Head Assistant Coach, and Recruiting Coordinator. In the 2021 season, Bragg was one of the assistant coaches that helped lead an impressive Corban lineup to the program's first ever NAIA National Tournament appearance.
During his time as a student-athlete in the program, Bragg left his mark on the field with multiple NAIA West Golden Glove awards and currently holds the second all-time highest mark in doubles for a single season with 18 back in the 2018 season. In his senior year, he finished in the top-three in doubles, home runs, at-bats, and walks to lead the team to a 28-26 overall record and a Cal Pac Tournament appearance.
As a first-year head coach, Bragg and his 2023 roster have relied on an aggressive baserunning style of play to earn a 6-18 overall record thus far, leading the Cascade Collegiate Conference in stolen bases with 65 and ranking second in the CCC with 10 triples thus far.
"Ethan has been a huge part of Corban as a student-athlete and as both an assistant coach and head coach for our baseball program", Ziesemer shared on the department's most recent departure. "I am disappointed to see him go, as he has always been "all-in" on developing his players as student-athletes and integrating faith with athletics through the baseball program."
Ziesemer carried on with the announcement by stating, "He will finish out this season leading the Warriors on the diamond. Please be sure to thank Ethan for his valuable contribution to Corban University and the athletic department over his time as a Warrior."
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