LOUDONVILLE, NY – Ahead of his first season at the helm of Siena Baseball, head coach Alex Jurczynski announced the completion of his 2024 staff with the addition of four assistant coaches. Nolan Driscoll will serve as the team's Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Zach Breen will serve as Pitching Coach, Jordan Bernacet will serve as an Assistant Coach focusing in outfield and baserunning, and Chris Hamilton will serve as the Saints' Director of Player Development.
  No stranger to the Capital Region, Driscoll spent last season as an Assistant Baseball Coach/Recruiting coordinator at The College of Saint Rose in nearby Albany. He served in the same capacity at Hamilton College from 2019-22, at Clarkson University from 2016-18, and Fredonia State during the 2016 season. He coached 19 All-Conference players, five All-Region selections, and the 2018 Liberty League Co-Pitcher of the Year during his previous assistant coaching stops.

 Driscoll also served as an Assistant coach for the Sherrill Silversmiths (2019) and Newark Pilots (2015) Summer League programs, working with four MLB Draft selections while with Newark. He graduated with his B.S. in Global Supply Chain Management from Clarkson in 2015, and earned his MBA from Clarkson in 2018. He resides in nearby Troy with his wife Bre, who serves as the head field hockey coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

"I want to thank Coach Jurczynski, the athletic department and Siena College for this opportunity," Driscoll said. "As someone who grew up in the capital district, a fan of Siena, and whose mother is an alum of the college, coaching at Siena is a dream come true. I can't wait to get going and make a positive impact on this institution and program that has meant so much to me throughout my life."

Coach Jurczynski on Driscoll – "Nolan will have an immediate impact on our recruiting. He is a proven worker that has experience recruiting at a national level and coaching players at every level of college baseball. We are excited to have him as part of the Saints family."
  A Capital Region native, Breen currently serves as the Director of Pitching for the Baseball Health & Performance Institute, a position he has held since February 2023. He was the Director of Pitching Development at Frozen Ropes Albany from 2018-22, and spent the past two seasons as the Pitching Coach for the Amsterdam Mohawks of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). During his time with the Mohawks, the team won a pair of championships and made PGCBL Championship Game appearances in all three year while holding a combined record of 115-23 and a 2.90 team ERA with 1,474 strikeouts. He helped three players to be drafted or signed by LMB organizations and helped the program set records for strikeouts in a season in 2022 and opposing batting average in 2023.

A 2011 graduate of Shaker High School, Breen pitched for two seasons at Schenectady County Community College before transferring to Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina, where he earned First Team All-conference honors as a starting pitcher. He earned his B.S. in Sport Management from Barton in 2016. 

"It is an incredible honor to be a part of Coach Jurczynski's staff and be able to join the Siena Community," Breen said. "I am looking forward to working with a very talented group of pitchers as we chase our goal to bring home a MAAC Championship."

Coach Jurczynski on Breen: "Zach's background will be a major asset in helping bring our pitching staff to the next level. Zach has experience as a distinguished instructor in the Capital Region, and has established strong relationships with local high school and summer ball coaches."
  Bernacet joins the Saints after spending the past two seasons as an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, helping the team to a 67-26 overall record, a regular season title in 2022, and an SIAC Tournament Runner-Up finish in 2023. He coached 11 All-Conference and three All-Region selections in two seasons, as well as the 2022 SIAC Player of the Year.

He also served as the Director of Player Development at King Sports Training Center in Schenectady, New York from 2018-22, and was an Assistant coach at nearby Bryant & Stratton College in Albany from August 2020 – May 2021. A 2019 graduate of Dominican College with a B.S. in Nursing, he spent four years as a part of the baseball program as an outfielder, first basemen, and pitcher, and was a First Team All-CACC selection as a designated hitter in 2019. He also helped the team to the 2017 CACC Tournament Title in 2017.

"I'm extremely grateful to be a part of the coaching staff that Alex has put together here at Siena College," Bernacet said. "I look forward to sharing my experience with the players here in the Siena baseball program to help them develop both on and off the diamond."

Coach Jurczynski on Bernacet: "Jordan is a talented young coach that is very passionate about the game and will bring energy to the program. With him being responsible for outfielders and baserunning, I am confident that our players are in good hands."
  Stepping into a collegiate coaching role for the first time, Hamilton joins the Saints after a decorated five-year playing career at Stony Brook University from 2016-21. A two-time First Team All-America East selection in 2019 and 2021, he completed his collegiate career ranked inside the program's career top-ten in home runs, RBI's doubles, and walks. He earned America East All-Tournament Team honors in 2018, and was named the 2019 America East Conference Tournament MVP while leading the Seawolves to the NCAA Tournament.

Hamilton earned his B.S. in Business Marketing in 2020 and his Advanced Graduate Certificate in coaching in 2021 from Stony Brook. A two-sport star at nearby Schalmont High School in soccer and baseball, he holds the New York State High School Record for goals in a season with 66, and as a First Team All-State selection, as well as a two-time Albany Times Union Player of the Year.

"I am excited to join Coach Jurczynski and his staff at Siena College," Hamilton said. "I feel fortunate to be a part of his team. I have been coached and mentored by so many talented coaches over the years and I welcome the opportunity to share that experience with the Saints."

Coach Jurczynski on Hamilton: "After finishing his career as one of the best hitters in Stony Brook's history, Chris will bring valuable experience as our Director of Player Development. Chris has a strong connection to the Capital Region community and will help the program in many areas. We are lucky to have someone of Chris's caliber on staff."