Mequon, WI – January 23, 2013, The Lakeshore Chinooks are excited to announce a new Manager for the 2013 season. Eddy Morgan, Head Coach at UW-Superior, will take the reins at Kapco Park this season.
Morgan joined the Chinooks for the inaugural 2012 season as an assistant coach. He says he’s excited to be back with the Chinooks again this summer.
"I have tremendous respect for the ownership group, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. We are going to build one of the finest summer collegiate organizations in the country." Morgan said.
"When fans come out to watch us play they will get a taste of true professionalism. We will play the game the right way with a lot of energy and mental toughness. We are confident the fans will walk away and understand what we mean when we say ‘The Chinooks Way’," added Morgan.
In Morgan’s six seasons he has won more games with his Superior teams than any other head coach in the history of Yellowjacket baseball. Prior to UW-Superior, Morgan spent nine seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the College of St. Scholastica. There he helped build the Saints into a perennial Division III power that was consistently ranked among the top teams in NCAA Division III while establishing himself as one of the top assistants in the country.
Last season, was the Chinooks first in the Northwoods League, one of the premiere summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country. No other collegiate summer league draws more fans, (more than 900,000 in 2012) and plays more games (70 games in 75 days) than the Northwoods League. The Chinooks ownership group, led by Jim Kacmarcik, President of Kapco, Inc. includes baseball Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Bob Uecker. It also includes Bucks General Manager John Hammond and a number of other community-minded businessmen. It is their goal to provide a professional experience in a family friendly environment for fans and players alike.
"We are excited about what Eddy brings to the Chinooks. He has a tremendous passion for the game along with excellent teaching skills and a desire to incorporate technology into his coaching philosophy, something the top colleges in the country are currently doing," commented Vice President and General Manager Dean Rennicke.
In the Chinooks inaugural season, the team finished with a 35-35 record under John Vodenlich who will not return for the 2013 season. Vodenlich’s desire to spend more time with his family along with his additional duties at UW-Whitewater thwarted his return.
"I really enjoyed the opportunity to manage the Chinooks in their first year," said Vodenlich. "Everything from the ownership down is first class, and I’m a big fan of the Lakeshore Chinooks and what they are trying to accomplish," Vodenlich added.
In addition to Morgan, the Chinooks announced the hiring of Scott Hood, currently an assistant coach at Kansas, as one of their coaches for the summer. Hood played collegiately at South Dakota State University where he also coached for two years prior to joining the Jayhawks staff this season.
The Lakeshore Chinooks kick off their second season with the Northwoods League in May 2013. Opening day at Kapco Park on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon is scheduled for Thursday, May 30 at 6:35 p.m. vs. the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.
Chinooks season tickets are now on sale. Call the Chinooks Front Office at 262-618-4659 for more information. For the 2013 schedule, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.
