Grays Harbor College has announced the hiring of Gunnar Ueda-Pancheri as its new head coach of the Chokers baseball program after the resignation of former head coach Mike Bruner in June.
Pancheri was one of Bruner’s top assistants this past season and was named head coach after Bruner decided to retire from coaching to spend more time with family.
Pancheri received praise from Bruner after receiving the head coaching nod.
“Gunnar has done a fantastic job as an assistant coach at GHC this past season and has done an even better job of recruiting our 2021 class,” Bruner said. “He knows the sport of baseball very well, has a great approach to situational game strategy, works well with players on skill development, is an incredible recruiter, understands the importance of academic success and has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has the passion needed to be a college-level head baseball coach.”
Pancheri, also known as “Coach Panch,” began coaching in 2016 at Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he spent four years as the head recruiting coordinator, infield coach and associate head coach.
He made the move to the Harbor in 2020, where he served under Bruner as the Chokers’ head recruiting coordinator and infield coach for the 2020-21 season.
Pancheri was also a head coach for the Hanford Flames summer baseball program in Eastern Washington and is currently a head coach in the Cascade Collegiate League, played locally at Olympic Stadium in the summer.
Pancheri hopes to continue the improvement of the program seen under Bruner and develop the skills of Chokers players, both on and off the field.
“In the coming seasons, I am dedicated to creating a constantly competitive environment within the program,” Pancheri said. “It will be a goal of mine to mold leaders on the field, on campus and in the community with the ultimate goal to progress these student-athletes to four-year universities — ensuring they are equipped with the necessary life skills to be successful young men.”
GHC Athletic Director Will Rider stated the university is confident Pancheri is the right person for the job after the resignation of Bruner.
“Although we are sorry to see coach Bruner’s retirement, we feel quite confident that he has left a blossoming program in the hands of a very capable young man in coach Panch,” Rider said. “Gunnar’s impact on the program in just his first season with us has been quite positive and I know coach Bruner — having built the program with professionalism, culture, and competitiveness — has turned over the reins to a promising young coach.”
