The Northwoods League
The league draws some of the top up-and-coming coaching talent from across the country who are looking to develop themselves, just like the players, into the future stars of the college and professional coaching ranks.
The Northwoods League has become a hotbed for excellent coaching.
Many of the league’s coaches were once MLB and Minor League Baseball players and coaches including Twins star Al Newman, Donnie Scott, Duffy Dyer and former skipper for the New York Mets, Terry Collins.
Cody Piechoki
Field Manager
2025 will be Piechocki’s tenth season as Growlers manager and 13th season as a coach in the Northwoods League.
Piechocki received his start in the Northwoods League in 2013 with the Battle Creek Bombers as an assistant coach before joining Kalamazoo for its inaugural season in 2014.
Piechocki claimed his first Northwoods League title in 2022 and became one of just three coaches in Northwoods League history to win multiple titles after capturing his second in 2024.
Piechocki took over as the Growlers’ manager during the 2016 season and has only seen growth ever since.
Piechocki stands fifth in the Northwoods League in career wins, holding a regular and postseason record of 319-300 (.515).
In his tenure, Piechocki has brought the Growlers to the postseason each of the last three seasons and five of the past six.
In the last two seasons, Piechocki has helped the Growlers achieve its best two regular season records in franchise history.
In his nine seasons as manager, Piechocki has tutored the likes of 59 players who have either been drafted or signed by a major league team including seven who have made their major league debuts.
Along with his time with the Growlers, Piechocki coached 12 seasons at Kalamazoo Valley Community College including nine as the head coach.
Other stops include assistant coaching jobs at Mattawan High School and Kalamazoo College.
The Kalamazoo native, Piechocki is a graduate of both Mattawan High School and Western Michigan University.
For player placement questions and requests, please fill out the online form here.
Nate Wargolet
Pitching Coach
A familiar name coming to Kalamazoo this summer is former Growlers pitcher Nate Wargolet.
Wargolet began his playing career at Kalamazoo Valley Community College pitching for the Cougars for three seasons before ending his career at Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids.
Wargolet played two summers with the Growlers in 2019 and 2020, holding a 6-1 record and a 2.36 ERA across 42 innings.
This spring, Wargolet had his first season as the pitching coach for Muskegon Community College.
For player placement questions and requests, please click to fill out the online form below.
