Michael Bruno

Michael Bruno

Michael Bruno is in his second stint at Cal, now working as the inside linebackers coach after serving as an analyst with the group last season. 2025 will be his sixth overall season with Bears after also serving as an analyst from 2018-21. Bruno is in charge of all of the defensive breakdowns, opponent scouting and the defensive playbook. He also assists with the recruiting efforts of all defensive prospects for Cal. 
  • Served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Minot State in 2023, leading the defense to the top of the NSiC in defending the pass
  • Spent the 2022 season at UNLV as the inside linebackers coach where he coached Austin Ajiake, the Mountain West Linebacker of the Year 
  • Prior to his arrival at Cal in 2018, Bruno worked with current Golden Bears' defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon when Sirmon was the defensive coordinator at both Louisville (2017) and Mississippi State (2016)
  • Spent one season at Louisville in 2017 in a defensive quality control role when the Cardinals posted an 8-5 record, reached the TaxSlayer Bowl and employed the nation's No. 14 ranked total defense (322.2 ypg)
  • A graduate assistant on the defensive side of the ball at Mississippi State during the 2016 campaign when he connected with Sirmon (then Mississippi State's defensive coordinator) and helped the Rebels establish a red zone defense that tied for ninth nationally by holding opponents to 73.3 percent in red scoring
  • Spent five seasons from 2011-15 as a nickelback, assistant secondary and assistant special teams coach at Dartmouth with the Big Green winning its first Ivy League crown since 1996 in his final campaign in 2015 and compiling a combined 34-16 record during the five-year period including a 17-3 mark over the final two campaigns
  • Began his coaching career with a three-season stint at Division III Worcester Poly (2009-10) of the then Liberty League as a special teams coordinator while also coaching the running backs, defensive backs and defensive line during his tenure
  • Earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Lawrence in 2009 and his master's in teaching from Mississippi State in 2017