Under his leadership, the Titans have seen great improvements as a team - both on the court and in the classroom - and several players have earned conference and national honors for their play and both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 teams were named to the NAIA Scholar Teams list. The Titans have now been named to the WBCA Top 25 All-Academic list the last three seasons, ranking #23 following the 2011-12 season.

Four times during Bruce's tenure a Titan has been named to the NAIA Honorable Mention All-American team: Jen VanderZanden in 2007-08 and Katie Hacker in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.

In each of the past seven seasons, Bruce's teams have also featured at least one CCAC All-Conference honoree. In 2006-2007, VanderZanden took home First Team honors, and repeated it the following season, when she was joined by Evva Comans. In 2008-2009, Katie Hacker and Lizzie Stapke earned a First Team nod and Stapke was also named CCAC Freshman of the Year. Hacker followed that by being named to the First Team again in 2009-2010, with Stacy Spurgeon, Cortney Flanigan and Betsy Grogan each earning CCAC Honorable Mention nods as well. Hacker was again named to the First Team for the 2010-11 season and she was joined by Kimmie Hummer and Lizzie Stapke, who were both named to the Second Team. After the 2011-12 season Lizzie Stapke and Emily Strilich were both named to the CCAC Second Team.

Bruce came to IU South Bend from Valparaiso University where he was a part of the most successful run in program history. Bruce served as an assistant coach from 1999-2003 and, in the summer of 2003, was promoted to associate head coach, where he served until 2006. While at Valpo, the Crusaders went 123-89 (.580) and won the Mid-Continent Conference regular season title in 2001-2002, two Mid-Continent Conference Tournament champion-ships, had two NCAA Tournament appearances and a WNIT quarterfinal appearance. While with the Crusaders, Bruce was in charge of the defense, post players, scouting, summer camps and assisted with recruiting.

Prior to VU, Bruce coached middle school boys in Bowling Green, KY, leading them to two Southern Kentucky Middle School titles. He also excelled in the classroom, and was nominated three times for Outstanding Young Educator in Warren County, KY. Bruce earned Teacher of the Year and Excellence in Teaching awards and was honored by the National League of Junior Cotillions award for best-mannered teacher.

Bruce, originally from Washington, DC, played football at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was a team captain during his senior year. He graduated from OWU in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and with a Master‟s degree from Morehead State in 1984.