After the previous head coach was fired midway through the 2024 season, Buena’s Baseball program greeted their new coach, Bryson Wallet, a former player in the program until graduating in 2015. The bulldogs will now look to Wallet during the off-season and throughout the regular season.

After graduating from Buena, Wallet continued his baseball career at Ventura College, later receiving a scholarship to play at Campbellsville University in Kentucky. After winning a college World Series in his junior year and his college career coming to an end, he began his coaching path as an assistant coach. However, Buena is his first experience being  head coach of a high school program.

Spending time constantly involved in baseball gave Wallet the knowledge and experience to know what goals he wants to set for the team, and which ones he wants to achieve as a coach. One thing he hopes to capitalize on early in the year is team bonding.

“We’re all family out here… All of them are brothers, we’re all teammates,” Wallet said.

Stepping into the first year of being a head coach puts a lot of weight on Wallet’s shoulders. In order to lead the program, he knows he has to make sure that he is supporting the team, ensuring everyone is fully committed to build trust and unity.

“As a coach, it would be awesome to see everyone bought in,” Wallet said. 

One month into the off season has given plenty of time and opportunity for the team to see Wallet connect and move the program in many positive directions. So far, the team feels eager to get the season started under his guidance.

“First time meeting him he was a little quiet,” senior Miguel Magallanes said. “[But] he has gotten more comfortable…and he is more into the program.”

All players heading into their next year of playing baseball at Buena have confidence in him to lead the team going forward. Junior Gabe Alonzo is heading into his third year in the sport and has complete faith in Wallet’s coaching abilities. 

“He is more calm and understanding with us,” Alonzo said. “…[when] you make an error, he tells you to flush it. Forget about it.”

Wallet plans on highlighting the importance of the balance between the mental and physical struggles of the game through accountability in order to build a stronger environment amongst the players. 

“If one guy messes up off the field or on the field, it is upon the team…to take matters in their own hand and hold each other accountable,” Wallet said.

Senior Kaelan Davis has had moments where he has held teammates accountable, in similar manner to the standards that Wallet upholds. 

“He doesn’t let us go below 100 percent,” Davis said. “Even if we do, he’ll tell us to go back up,” 

Wallet is faced with a tough task of leading the bulldogs through a full season as their new head coach.  However, with the support of his team and lifelong experience in the sport, he is on track to set players up for success for the remainder of their high school career and onward.

“I’m not only teaching the game of baseball, but I’m trying to teach what comes along with it: life lessons,” Wallet said.