Bruns steps down at Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon boys' basketball coach Wes Bruns has resigned from his position, he told The Gazette Tuesday.

Bruns led the Mustangs for two years, taking them to the Class 3A substate finals this past season. They finished 15-9.

In 2013-14, Mount Vernon was 18-6, losing in the 2A substate finals to North Cedar. Bruns said that contrary to rumors, he was not forced to resign, adding he had the support of his school's administration.

'I want to continue coaching so badly,” he said. 'I have a lot to offer and share. The boys were great and I love them all. But I think this is something that needs to be done.”

Bruns is a Cedar Rapids Prairie graduate who has perservered through several hardships in his personal life. The Gazette did a story on him prior to the 2014-15 season: Mount Vernon’s Bruns Perserveres

Bruns is the fourth coach in the Wamac Conference to step down this offseason. Chad Specht resigned at Maquoketa, Nate Doran at South Tama and Dan Correy at Dyersville Beckman. Correy won his 400th-career game in the 2015 postseason.

Sage Maiers, who would have been Beckman's top rerturning player, recently announced he was transferring to Dubuque Wahlert for his senior season.