Meet Wes

About

Wes Bruns

Wes Bruns was a high school senior and an all‑state basketball player when he suddenly lost his father to a blood clot in January 1986. Years later, on Christmas Day 1992, a carbon monoxide accident took the lives of Wes’s mother, Sharon and stepfather, Jim and two older brothers, Al and Dennis, and left Wes comatose for five days with a flatline brain scan. His family has endured many other hardships as well. This page exists to reach those who have suffered tragedies, to offer hope, and to show that resilience and joy can still be found in the darkest times.

Known to many as Coach Bruns, Wes grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following in the footsteps of his father, LaVerne Bruns, a Hall of Fame high school basketball coach. Inspired by his father’s example, Wes has devoted his life to coaching. For the past 34 years he has guided athletes not only on the basketball court but also in cross country and track, and he cherished coaching his daughters during their elementary years in sports.

Wes has drawn strength and motivation from his hardships. After more than three decades of coaching, he channeled his experiences into a book, When Life Changes the Game. In it, he shares a powerful and uplifting story, his struggles, his determination, and the resilient spirit that carried him forward, with the hope of reaching others who are suffering and helping them find their own path to healing and happiness.

Wes and his wife, Holly, are parents to four children and continue to raise their family in Iowa. When he is not coaching, or spending time with his family, Wes can often be found on the golf course, or getting a good workout, pursuits that reflect his commitment to perseverance, balance, and living fully despite life’s challenges.

"Life can break the strongest of people, but Wes Bruns refuses to break."
- Andrew Craig, President, Scott County Catholic School

Milestones

• 1991 Begins his coaching career at LaSalle High School.
• Christmas Night 1992 A carbon monoxide leak takes the lives of four family members; Wes spends five days comatose with a flatline brain scan before he miraculously survives.
• Media Featured on Everyday Iowa (KCRG), Living Undeterred, A Close Call with Death, Streamline Publishing, The Survivors Podcast, and the Unash & Dukes Podcast.
• Aug 20, 2026 Released When Life Changes the Game, launching with a book signing at NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids, IA.
• Aug 28, 2026 Speaks at the Daybreak Rotary Club breakfast, Cedar Rapids Country Club.
• Sept 14, 2026 Speaks at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Rotary Club luncheon.