Wes Brooks set to make debut as USA U-12 National Baseball Team manager
USA Baseball revealed the coaching staff for the 2026 U-12 National Team, with two-time gold medalist Wes Brooks stepping into the role as manager after two highly successful stints as the program’s pitching coach. Brooks will lead a seasoned coaching staff that includes pitching coach Kyle Howell, returning assistant Erick Quesada, and assistant coach David Houseton.
Brooks and Quesada will make their second consecutive appearance on the U-12 National Team staff after leading USA to victory last summer at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 in Tainan (TPE). Quesada also served on staff in 2023, while Howell and Houseton join the national team for the first time and bring a wealth of playing and coaching experience across all levels of baseball.
“I'm humbled to be named the U-12 National Team Manager,” said Brooks. “I’ve been fortunate to be around some of the best leaders in the world to wear the USA jersey, and I will work relentlessly to uphold the gold standard set before us. It’s a rewarding opportunity to find the right players to wear that jersey, and we’re excited to identify the right eighteen. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent the greatest country in the world.”
"We are thrilled to announce the coaching staff for the 2026 12U National Team,” said U-12 National Team Program Director Cole Beeker. “Wes, David, Erick, and Kyle are not only outstanding coaches, but are gifted leaders of young men that bring out the best in people. Our goal is to embrace the challenge of international competition and bring home a gold medal, and we could not ask for a finer group of individuals to lead Team USA."
Brooks takes over as manager after propelling the U-12 National Team to the top of the podium in back-to-back summers as pitching coach. In 2024, his staff played a crucial role in capturing gold at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, as USA pitchers boasted a 0.86 ERA, hurled four shutouts, and tossed one no-hitter. His pitchers followed up the strong performance last summer in the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 when they recorded a tournament-best 1.62 ERA. This marks the fourth straight year that Brooks will be involved with the 12U National Team, as his first stint with the program began at U-12 National Team Training Camp in 2023.
Stepping into Brooks’ previous role as pitching coach is Howell, who will make his USA coaching debut this summer.
Bringing further experience to the staff is Quesada, who will make his third appearance on the U-12 National Team coaching staff after assisting in the team’s world cup-winning runs in 2023 and 2025.
Rounding out the 2026 U-12 National Team staff is Houseton, who will make his USA coaching debut this summer. Houseton brings 26 years of experience coaching high school and travel baseball to the staff.
Collectively, the staff looks to continue a storied streak of success for the U-12 National Team, which has now won nine gold medals in international competition since its inception in 2013. The most recent victory at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 marks the program’s eighth gold medal in 12 years. USA has medaled in six out of the seven WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cups it has participated in and currently leads all nations with six world cup titles.