Our Coaches

Coach Kurt Kristynik is the founder and director of the Rake City Cypress baseball organization. Born and raised in Cypress, TX, he has been involved in baseball and athletics as a whole his entire life. He graduated from Cypress Falls HS where he was a 2-year Letterman in football and 3-year Letterman and captain in baseball. Was part of the first Cy Falls baseball team to make the playoffs in school history in 1996 during his senior year. Upon conclusion of his high school career, he committed to play baseball at Texas Tech University.

After spending the 1997 season as a member of the Big 12 Champion Red Raiders, he transferred across town to Lubbock Christian University. While at LCU, he was a part of two Sooner Athletic Conference Champion teams including his senior year in 2000 where he was the winning pitcher in the conference tournament championship game. After graduation, he made his way back across Lubbock to join the Texas Tech coaching staff for the 2001 season.  

After graduating with his Master’s Degree from TTU, he returned to Cypress and began working in his family’s flooring business. He was a sales and project manager for 13 years before leaving the company for one year to go back into coaching full-time. He took over as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Texas Slam Baseball Academy in Livingston, TX in early 2014. In the summer of 2015, he and his family returned to Cypress where he reassumed his position with Buffaloe Floor Covering. Following the company’s merger in 2019, he was named the Vice President of the newly formed Buffaloe Floors & Up. He currently oversees all company operations and business development. 

Over the past 22 years, coach Kurt has coached over 100 players who have gone on to play at the collegiate level. He has coached high school summer varsity baseball at his alma mater Cy Falls, Lubbock Monterey and Cypress Ranch where he was part of two state championship teams. He has also coached in the Houston Warriors, Texas Slam and Katy Twelve organizations prior to starting Rake City Cypress. In 2019, he had his first former player reach the major league level when Cy Ranch and Texas Slam alum Corbin Martin debuted for the Houston Astros.

Coach Kurt and his wife Marti live in Cypress with their two children, Cole Mc who is 15 and Chance Marie who is 12. In his spare time he enjoys barbequing for family and friends, deer hunting and spending time with family near the beach, the lake or a pool!

Coach Herrmann was born and raised in the Cypress area, where he attended Cy-Fair High School. During his senior year he tore ligaments in his knee that cut his senior year short. After surgery and rehab, he had to walk on at Blinn Junior College and made the team. Coash played two years at Blinn College where he received All Conference honors as a first baseman. He had a cumulative batting average of .323 with 10 hrs. both years. Coach Herrmann received an offer to Southwest Texas State to forward his colligate career. During his years at Southwest, he received All Conference honors, all Region honors, along with the Conference Player of the year for the Southland Conference his senior year. Coach Herrmann posted a .398 batting average along with 20 homeruns during his final year. Coach Herrmann was also used as a closer where he logged 15 innings with 25 k's and a 2.14 era.

Coach Herrmann played in the Kansas Jayhawk league between his Jr and Senior year where he was voted most valuable player in the league by hitting .415 with 18 hrs. With all of his success as a hitter, no MLB team would take a chance on a player that batted right handed and throws left. The only opportunity he received was to accept an offer from the Salt Lake City Trappers independent team. After flying out to Salt Lake City, he received a phone call from the Philadelphia Phillies who officered him a position as a pitcher. He accepted the offer and flew to Clearwater Florida for Spring Training.

Coach Herrmann pitched in the minor leagues for 6 years reaching AA for his last two years. During his career he earned the minor league pitcher of the month by going 6-0 with a 2.95 era in 1994. He filled the roll of a starter for the first 3 years but moved to the bullpen after sustaining an elbow injury which caused him to have surgery. After battling his elbow and not being able to stay healthy, he was released in 1997, where he started his new career as a Houston Police Officer.

Coach Herrmann has been married to his wonderful wife Jackie for 25 years and they have have two sons, Garrett and Landon. Garrett is currently at Texas State University, where his is attending Grad school for Accounting, and playing baseball. Landon is a freshman at Northeast Texas Community college where he is playing baseball and working on his associates degree. 

Coach Brent Brooks was born and raised in Lufkin TX. Coach Brooks grew up with a passion for sports and the outdoors. He attended Lufkin High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was a three year letterman on the baseball field while earning All-District and All-State honors. After graduating from Lufkin HS in 2000, he continued his baseball and academic career at Texas Tech University. Brent was a member of the Tech baseball team from 2001-2003, playing for Hall of Fame coach, Larry Hays. While at Tech, Coach Brooks started his friendship, and consequently his coaching path, with then Graduate Assistant Coach, Kurt Kristynik.  

In 2004, Coach Brooks transferred to Sam Houston State University, where he finished playing his last two years. Brent received his marketing degree from Sam Houston in 2005. After college, Coach Brooks continued his passion and love of baseball by coaching for multiple organizations. Over a span of 15 years, Brent has coached teams in Lubbock, Dallas, Livingston and Houston. He was an integral part of the off-season coaching staff at Cypress Ranch HS from 2011-2014 and a part of the 2012 State Championship team for the Mustangs. The majority of his coaching time has been spent as the pitching coach with Coach Kristynik. In his time, he has helped mold the pitching careers of dozens of future college players.

When not on the baseball field, Coach Brooks enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Brent, his wife, and two daughters, reside in the Woodlands. Brent is also an avid hunter, enjoys travel, and live music. Coach Brooks and his family are involved in various ways throughout the community, always trying to “Give Back”. Brent has a passion for life, Christ, and the game of baseball.  

Coach Simon grew up in the Cy Fair community graduating from Cy Falls High School in 2013. Coach Simon earned 1st team all-district honors along with being chosen 1st team All Greater Houston his senior year.

Coach Simon attended New Mexico Junior College achieving both conference and regional playoff appearances during his tenure there. Individually Coach Simon was voted All-Conference each year and participating in the Texas/New Mexico All Star game in 2015. Coach Simon then transferred to Oklahoma City University where his team once again achieved a conference championship and regional playoff berth eventually finishing in 3rd place at the NAIA World Series held in Lewiston Idaho.

After college Coach Simon played for the Rieleros (Railways) de Aguascalientes a member of the Triple-A Mexican League. Coach Simon compiled 30 innings in 2017/2018 as a starter and reliever pitching the Railways into a playoff run. In 2020 Coach Simon was a member of the Salina Stockade out of Bakersfield California of the Pecos League. He continues to work on his craft along with giving back to the game joining Rake City.

Coach Simon resides in the Cy Fair area and has been part of the Rake City staff for the past two years. He’s an avid Houston professional sports fan and enjoys spending family time with his parents and brothers Julius and Justin.