FOND DU LAC, WI – Zac Charbonneau has been named as the first manager of Fond du Lac’s new Northwoods League franchise that will begin play in 2017.  Charbonneau is currently the assistant coach at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois.

“We are very excited to bring Zac on board as manager and have him be part of the inaugural season of Fond du Lac Baseball,” said Ryan Moede, the team’s general manager.  “Zac has a proven track record of success and we have no doubt that he will build a competitive team in Fond du Lac.”

Charbonneau was the manager of the Springfield Sliders of the Prospect League in 2016 and led the team to the best record in the league.  The season was capped off with him being named 2016 Prospect League Manager of the Year.  His other experience in collegiate wood bat leagues includes managing the Des Plaines Patriots of the Metro Collegiate League for three seasons and coaching the Slippery Rock Sliders of the Prospect League.

The graduate of Millikin University also has experience as an assistant coach in college baseball at his alma mater and with Roosevelt University.  Twelve of the players he has coached have moved on to the professional ranks.

"I am beyond excited to take on the responsibility of coaching a team in the prestigious Northwoods League," said Charbonneau.  “I am thankful and very fortunate for the opportunity Ryan Moede and Rob Zerjav haven given me. Ryan and Rob are first class guys with top notch experience, and I look forward to helping them build something special in Fond du Lac."

"It is not often you get to be a part of building something from the ground up, and that makes this endeavor that much more special,” he continued.  “Our goal is to make the Fond du Lac Baseball Club a championship contender year in and year out.”

Fond du Lac baseball will begin its first season in May of 2017.

The Fond du Lac Baseball Club is a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 160 former 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.fonddulacbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set Fond du Lac as your favorite team.