Waterloo, Iowa – The Waterloo Bucks have announced former field manager Travis Kiewiet will return to the team as a coach. Kiewiet 
(pronounced KEY-wit), who stepped down as Waterloo’s manager this past October, will join the team as a part-time volunteer assistant. The Dike, Iowa native joins skipper Tony Manville and coaches Jeremy Massie and Aaron Rea to form Waterloo’s coaching staff for the team’s 21st season of play.
“I want to thank Tony Manville and general manager Dan Corbin for allowing me to still be a part of the Bucks organization in a limited role,” said Kiewiet. “I'm excited to help Tony in any way I can to make his first year as manager as successful as possible. I'm also excited to see all the upgrades that the new ownership group has done to the stadium as well as to see what is new to the overall fan experience.”
Kiewiet guided the Bucks for the last three seasons, compiling a 130-81 record. He was named the Northwoods League’s Manager of the Year in 2013 after setting a new league record for wins with 51 and guiding Waterloo to their first trip to the playoffs since 2002. Over the past two seasons, the Bucks have the most wins of any summer-collegiate team in the nation.
Kiewiet sits third in team history in managerial wins, sitting behind Eric Snider (161-86) and Darrell Handelsman (160-108). Prior to being named Waterloo manager in October of 2011, Kiewiet was a member of the team’s coaching staff from 2008 through 2011, working under former managers Jason Nell and Pete Lauritson.
"Travis played a huge role in making me the coach that I am today,” said Manville. “He was awesome enough to give me an opportunity to coach in this league and it will be great to have him around the team again. The players and fans love him and I know he will help out a ton in whatever role he is able to fill this summer. I can't speak enough to how much Travis means to the Bucks and the people of the Cedar Valley."
The Bucks, the winningest team in all of summer-collegiate baseball over the past two years, will open the 2015 season on the road versus the Alexandria Blue Anchors on May 26, but return to Waterloo for their home opener versus the Mankato MoonDogs on May 28. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.
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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com.