Bellevue East Class of 2005 graduate Brian Strawn has turned his love of baseball and community into a lifelong mission of giving back. From his days playing at Roddy Field to helping launch Fungoes Baseball and Softball Training, Strawn is passionate about creating opportunities for young athletes while building the same sense of friendship, mentorship, and belonging that shaped his own journey.

Bellevue Alumni Association - Alumni Spotlight:

Brian Strawn, Bellevue East Class of 2005

Q: What was your most memorable experience in high school?

A: Some of my most memorable experiences came from late nights at the Bellevue East batting cages at Roddy Field. My best friends and I spent countless hours there hitting, listening to music, and learning about life. Those nights weren’t just about baseball, they were about friendships, growth, and learning from one another.

To this day, those moments are some of my fondest high school memories. Three of those friends and I eventually started Fungoes together, and a big reason for that is because we want future generations to have the same kind of space and opportunity we were lucky enough to have growing up.

Q: Tell us about a teacher, coach, or staff member who significantly impacted you

A: Don Kiviniemi and Aaron Taylor, my varsity baseball coaches at Bellevue East, had a huge impact on me. Not only did they help me develop as a player, but more importantly, they were incredible role models. They helped me find my place on the baseball field and taught lessons that extended far beyond the game.

I still have great relationships with both of them today, and I’ll always be grateful for the guidance, standards, and belief they showed in me during my time at East. 

Q: What activities, clubs, or sports were you involved in during high school, and how did they influence your path after graduation?

A: I played basketball for two years and baseball all four years at Bellevue East. Baseball ultimately opened the door for me to play college baseball, which later led to coaching. I was fortunate to serve as the head baseball coach at Bellevue West for three years, helping lead the program to its first state tournament appearance since the 1980s in 2014.

After that, I coached Division I baseball at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for nearly a decade. Now that I have children of my own, I feel a strong pull to give back locally. That’s what led my friends and me to start Fungoes, an indoor baseball and softball facility just south of Bellevue. I’ve had so many people pour into me throughout my life, and Fungoes is one of the ways I plan to pay that forward for the rest of my life. 

Q: What do you do for a living?

A: I own and operate Fungoes Baseball and Softball Training, a 15,000-square-foot indoor training facility located just minutes south of Bellevue. We serve the entire Bellevue baseball and softball community, and we’ll be announcing our own baseball and softball teams in the coming months.

Our goal is for Fungoes to be a place where athletes feel respected, valued, and supported, not just as players, but as people. I chose this path because I’ve always believed coaching should be about the individual, not ego. I truly care about the athletes I work with, and I want to help them become the best version of themselves on and off the field.

I don’t see any reason why the Bellevue area can’t become a hub for baseball and softball excellence in Nebraska, and I’m excited to help build that future. 

Q: What has been your proudest achievement since leaving high school?

A: Professionally, one of my proudest moments was helping lead the University of Nebraska at Omaha to the 2019 Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships and competing in the program’s first-ever NCAA Conference Tournament appearance. That team also led all of Division I baseball in fielding percentage.

That said, no professional accomplishment compares to how proud I am to be a husband and father. Being married to my wife Sarah and raising our two boys, August and Dawson, is where my true legacy lives. 

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: I feel like I won the lottery with how I was raised. My mom and dad, James and Ellen, couldn’t have given me a better childhood. My mom graduated from Bellevue High in 1970. I am the youngest of 6 kids, and all of my brothers and sisters graduated from Bellevue East (Golda, Jessica, Julie, Jimmy, Bonnie, and Brian (myself)). My mom, dad, and siblings helped afford me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and I feel like I need to spend the rest of my life paying them back for all they’ve done for me. Incredible people. My wife, Sarah Strawn, is a Bellevue West Graduate and current freshman counselor at Bellevue East. My mother-in-law, Lisa Rybar has been instrumental in serving the Bellevue community for decades, and is amazing. My father-in-law, Jim Rybar, is retired from the Bellevue Police Department. My brother-in-law, James Rybar, is a BPS grad and currently works for BPS. My entire family has Bellevue ties, and that is so important to me. Bellevue is not only our home, but our foundation for our entire family. My sons August (4) and Dawson (2) and me and Sarah’s whole world. 

Q: What advice would you give to current students in Bellevue who are trying to figure out their future paths?

A: Give as much empathy as you can to the people around you, and always “look for the helpers.”

You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. Lean on your community, be kind, work hard, and stay open to the people who want to help guide you. It truly takes a village. 

Brian’s Favorites…..

Movie: Goonies!

Book: Wonder by R.J Palacio. I would read this aloud to my 4th and 5th graders when I taught for BPS.

Song: From by Bon Iver

Food: Vegan Gyros!

Bellevue Restaurant: I loved B&B Classic Dogs when they were open!