Michael Brunker:
CLASS OF 1970

St. James High SchoolClass of 1970
Ferndale, MI
Saint Therese AcademyClass of 1988
San diego, CA
St. Gregory High SchoolClass of 1970
Detroit, MI
University of Detroit High SchoolClass of 1970
Detroit, MI
Gesu SchoolClass of 1966
Detroit, MI
Michael's Story
Married since 1976 to Maria Colonna (Warren Fitzgerald HS -72) with five children (Maria-1978, Michael-1981, Mario-1985, Michelle-1990, Marianna-1994), and ten grandchildren (Kolu-2015, Cruz-2017, Duke-2020, Sierra-2020, Niko-2021, Gianna-2022, Emilia-2023, Kairo-2022, Luka-2024, and Naomi-2025).
Moved to San Diego in 1980 to coach basketball at San Diego State University.
I served as the Executive Director of San Diego’s “inner-city” Jackie Robinson Family YMCA for twenty-two years. While at the JRYMCA, located in San Diego County’s most critical community we increased the branch staff from 8 to over 90, the Board of Managers from 12 to 35, and the budget from $450,000 to over $4.2 million in FY2018. The 2010 Positioning for the Future strategic plan included a $34M Safe At Home Capital Campaign that totally rebuilt the facility in it's original location. On July 1, 2019, I accepted a new position within the organization that led countywide partnership efforts from the Y’s local corporate headquarters office. I supported the execution of the YMCA’s strategic plan by identifying, establishing and entering into new partnerships that directly align with the Association’s vision to double impact, serving more people throughout the county.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, I graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in Political Science before embarking on a 13 year basketball coaching career with stints at my alma mater and the NBA Detroit Pistons. After working...Expand for more
6 years with ESPN’s Dick Vitale in Detroit, I joined Smokey Gaines at San Diego State in 1980.
Schools attended are St. Gregory Elementary (59-63), Gesu Elementary (63-66), U of D High (66-67), St. James High (67-70), and the University of Detroit (70-74).
Employed by University of Detroit (Assistant Basketball Coach: 74-78), NBA Detroit Pistons (Assistant Basketball Coach: 78-80), San Diego State University (Assistant Basketball Coach: 80-87), County of San Diego Probation Department (Founder & Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Police Athletic League: 87-97), and YMCA of San Diego County (Executive Director of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA: 1997-2019, Vice President for Mission Advancement: 2019-2021).
On January 4, 2021, I retired from the YMCA to reFIRE as a Consultant - Coaching Specialist while never forgetting to continue spending my heaven doing good on earth!
Community service activities include Amateur Athletic Union - Pacific Southwest Association (Governor: 1987-Present, and National AAU of the USA Board of Directors since 2024), San Diego State University (President's Enrollment Management Advisory Council since 2014), San Diego Gas & Electric (Community Advisory Board 2016-2024), San Diego Union Tribune (Community Advisory Board since 2017), San Diego Rotary Club 33 (Honorary Member since 1994, Board of Directors, and President for 2023-2024), and Rotary International District 5340 Governor Nominee 2027-2028.
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