ROCHESTER, Mich.– Oakland baseball Head Coach Jordon Banfield announced Brian Nelson and Cooper Goen have joined the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach and Volunteer Assistant Coach respectively.
Nelson comes to Oakland after spending three years as the commissioner and coach in the Texas Collegiate League (TCL) where he helped expand the league with the addition of five Minor League franchises during the 2020 season.
“Brian’s decision to move his family from Texas shows how serious he is about being a part of something great and I cannot wait to prove that he made the right decision,” said Banfield. “He is a guy our student-athletes will really take to and one that I trust to manage the bench during games. I also see Brian being an asset in recruiting, especially on campus, but also with his relationships in the Southwest.”
Nelson also served as the tournament director for the Collegiate Summer Baseball Invitational (CSBI) in June of 2020. This tournament was the first live televised baseball event to take place in the United States after the initial COVID-19 lockdowns and served as a blueprint for sports to be able to return in 2020.
Prior to being named commissioner of the Texas Collegiate League, Nelson was the head coach of the league champion Brazos Valley Bombers. Nelson was named Coach of the Year during his last season at the helm where he led the Bombers to back-to-back regular season titles while capturing the sixth league title in Bombers’ History.
Before joining the Bombers and the TCL, Nelson spent two seasons at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as an Assistant Coach (2015-17) alongside Jordon Banfield. In addition to his coaching and recruiting duties at UTRGV, Nelson managed all aspects of team operations, including budget management and travel.
Nelson, a native of Bastrop, Texas, attended the United States Air Force Academy to play both baseball and football after high school, but shoulder surgeries cut his career short. He transferred to Texas A&M University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management before earning his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Sam Houston State. Nelson and his wife, Samantha, reside in Auburn Hills, Mich. with their daughter Sloan.
Goen joins the Golden Grizzlies after spending a season at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas where he coached the hitters, catchers and base runners.
“The biggest thing that stands out about Cooper is his desire to learn and be a great coach,” added Banfield. “Cooper has me completely convinced that he just wants to put his head down and work, which is the greatest trait a young coach can have. He’ll develop our catchers and assist with the offense while coaching first base on game days.”
Goen, a native of Austin, Texas, played and served as a Student Assistant at Texas Christian University from 2016-2019 and was a part of two College World Series teams. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Broadcasting with a minor in Spanish. Prior to TCU, he played baseball at Hyde Park High School. Goen currently resides in Auburn Hills, Mich.
###
