Bryan-College Station, TX - The Brazos Valley Bombers announced today that their coaching staff will be returning for the 2009 season.

Head Coach Brent Alumbaugh, who has been with the team since its inauguration in 2006, will return as head coach for the second consecutive season. J.R. Pickens will also be coming back as the assistant coach, providing experience and continuity for a Bombers team in search of their first TCL Championship.

Alumbaugh comes back as head coach for the 2009 season after leading the team to the playoffs in his first season as head coach. Despite a first-round exit to the eventual TCL Champion McKinney Marshals, the outlook for next season is bright. With his staff intact from last summer, Alumbaugh has shifted his focus to recruiting a championship caliber team for the upcoming season. Alumbaugh has a winning resume at the professional, collegiate and high school levels and does not expect his tenure with the Bombers to be any different.

Alumbaugh will again be joined by J.R. Pickens, who returns for his second season as assistant coach. Pickens specializes in the development of pitchers and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. He was drafted in the 10th round of the 2002 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics after being named the University of Mississippi’s Pitcher of the Year in 2002.

“The Bombers are excited about the return of Brent Alumbaugh and J.R. Pickens to the team next season,” said Bombers co-owner Uri Geva. “We are thrilled to have consistency in the process of building a winning tradition.”

The coaching staff is using the offseason to focus on putting together a star-studded team to compete for the TCL Championship. The past two summers, Brazos Valley has made the playoffs but failed to advance past the first round, losing to the eventual champions both seasons. The Bombers are hoping the third time will be the charm next year, as they try to capture their first championship.