New College of Florida

Coach Cruz is set to begin his second season as the head coach of the New College of Florida Womens basketball program. 

Coach Cruz led the Banyans to a 10-12 record in the program's inaugural season. Coach Cruz's Banyans picked up big wins through the season, including 3 20+ point wins over Beacon (2), and Trinity College.

Cruz comes to New College after assisting Warner University to its first winning season in nine years, and the most conference wins in six years. As the Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach for the Royals, Cruz recruited two back-to-back 1st Team All-Conference players (2022,2023) and two back-to-back Freshmen of the year (2022,2023). Prior to Warner, Cruz guided Cape Coral High School to a .748 winning percentage over 4 years (2017-2021), and an Elite 8 appearance in 2020.  He solidified two Coach of the Year awards (District and Conference Coach of the Year 2018), and he was a Dairy Farmer’s Coach of the Year finalist in 2020.  

He had over 20 wins in 3 of the 4 seasons that he was the head coach, garnering District Championships in 2018 and 2020, a Conference Championship in 2018, as well as 4 consecutive District Championship game appearances and 4 consecutive Regional playoff appearances.  

His coaching career began in 2011, as an assistant coach at the high school level.  For two seasons, he was an Assistant Coach for Cape Coral High School Boys’ Varsity team (2015-2017).  He helped guide the Seahawks to a 16-8 record, an 8-game improvement from the previous season.  Cruz was instrumental in helping to lay the foundation for the boy’s program reaching the Final Four the following season. 

Brian Cruz graduated with his Bachelors in Business Administration from Western Governors University. Brian is from New York City, where he grew up with his two siblings.
Record as a Head Coach