Dan Briand

Head Coach

Dan Briand is entering his seventh season in the dugout as the Head Baseball Coach of the Anna Maria College AMCATS in 2024. The 2023 season was another strong one under the leadership and direction of Coach Briand. Not only did the program have one of its players selected as the GNAC Player of the year for the third consecutive year (Jarrod Marifiote 2023, Jason Shell 2022, Kosta Drosidis 2021) but they also played in the GNAC Championship for the second time in the last three years. 2023 also marked the third consecutive season that produced multiple All-Region Players with five different players being honored. To date, Coach Briand has established the best winning percentage by any coach in the history of the baseball program at Anna Maria College and recorded his 100th win on April 22, 2023 with a 5-3 win over Albertus Magnus. In addition to their strong performance on the field, Briand had 17 Players selected for the GNAC Academic All-Conference team for the 2023 academic year.

Under his leadership, the 2022 season witnessed the program achieve unprecedented successes. The team not only established a new school record for Homeruns (31) and Runs Scored (289), but also ranked within the top 20 nationally for Team Batting Average for the second consecutive year. Moreover, the team's 23 victories in 2022 represent a record for the most regular season wins in program history.

Under Coach Briand's guidance, the team swept all major GNAC end-of-year awards for the first time. Specifically, Jason Shell (Sandwich, MA) earned the GNAC Player of the Year title, while Nick Choate (Grafton, MA) won both the GNAC Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. An additional twelve program members were honored as GNAC All-Conference team members, with six achieving First Team recognition. Furthermore, six players were selected for the d3baseball.com All-Region Team, and three made the Rawlings ABCA All-Region Team.

Since Briand assumed the helm, his record includes 12 d3baseball.com All-Region selections, 9 Rawlings/ABCA All-Region Selections, 3 GNAC Players of the Year, 2 GNAC Pitchers of the Year, 3 GNAC Rookies of the Year, and a total of 37 players receiving GNAC All-Conference honors. Academic excellence is also a team focus, with 55 program members named to the GNAC Academic All-Conference Team.

The team's achievements and national recognition have drawn votes in the d3baseball.com National Top 25 Poll, despite an annually challenging Non-Conference schedule. Under Briand's leadership, the team has consistently improved its win total each year, including a historic win of the GNAC regular season championship and hosting the GNAC championship series in 2021.

Before joining Anna Maria College, Briand was the top assistant coach at Fitchburg State University under the 2016 MASCAC Coach of the Year, Kevin Barnaby. Here, he contributed to back-to-back MASCAC Tournament appearances. Briand's coaching career also includes tenure as the top assistant at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, under four-time CCC Coach of the Year Derek Carlson.

Coach Briand holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Becker College, where he played baseball from 2005-2009 and served as team captain in his junior and senior years. During his time as a player, Briand contributed significantly to Becker's first New England Collegiate Conference Championship in 2009, earning recognition on the All-NECC First Team, the NECC All-Tournament Team, and a nomination for Conference Player of the Year.

Following his playing career, Briand joined Becker College's coaching staff for two seasons, contributing to the highest winning percentage in program history in 2011. He also has experience with the Northbridge American Legion Baseball team, serving as an assistant from 2006-2017 and being promoted to assistant manager in 2009. During this period, he guided the team to multiple Zone 4 Titles and a trip to the 2015 American Legion State Tournament.

Jake Ryan

Assistant Coach

Jake Ryan joined the Anna Maria College baseball coaching staff prior to the 2021 season, after serving the 2020 season as an assistant at Clark University. Jake will continue his duties as hitting coach for the AMCATS while also working with infielders and outfielders along with coaching third base.

In his three seasons with the AMCATS the team accumulated some impressive offensive success. The 2022 season set the school record for Homeruns (31) and Runs Scored (289), they also for the second consecutive year finished in the top 20 Nationally in Team Batting Average. The 2021 season saw a new single-season school record for team batting average (.345) and finished tied for the 10th highest batting average in the country, including the highest batting average among all the New England teams. The AMCATS also finished tied for 32nd in the country for home runs per game and 26th in the country in runs per game. In Ryan’s two years with the program the Amcats have had back to back GNAC Player of the Year awards and 8 named to all region teams.

Jake played baseball for Worcester State University where he was a four-year starter, primarily as an outfielder. While at Worcester State Jake was a member of two MASCAC championship teams, 2014 and 2017 while he was named Captain as a senior. He was named all MASCAC as a junior and senior while also being named Third-Team All-New England as a senior. He wrapped up his career tied for the all-time lead in triples and second in walks. While in college Jake was a member of the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs of the FCBL in 2016.

Ryan graduated from Worcester State in 2017 where he received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Upon graduation, Ryan got a job as a correctional officer at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. He resides in Northbridge, MA with his wife Victoria, daughter Raelynn and dog Ace.

Andrew Rodriques

Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

BIO coming

Nick Genatossio

Assistant Coach/Head Developmental Team Coach

BIO coming