The Madison Mallards have hired 2002 Northwoods League Champion Manager Darrell Handelsman to be their Manager for the 2003 season. Handelsman has been the Manager for the Waterloo Bucks from 1999 to 2002 & he was the Manager of the now defunct Kenosha Kroakers in the Northwoods League for two seasons (?97 & ?98) prior to working in Waterloo.
Handelsman is the all-time Northwoods League career victories leader with 220, and has also been voted as the Manager of the year two times (?00 & ?01). ?We wanted to win next year and it came down to the fact that Darrell gives us the best opportunity to do it.? Said Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman. ?He is the most proven manager in the history of the league and it is a coup for us to get him here.?
Handelsman will bring an aggressive attitude to the Mallards as well with five of his clubs ranking in the top eleven all-time in league history in stolen bases in a season. ?That?s how I like to play and that is what it takes to win in this league.? Said Handelsman. ?Everyone in this league is playing with a wood bat for the first time so you can?t always sit back and wait for a big homerun, you have to make something happen in other ways.?
Darrell will officially join the front office in November, but will start to assemble the 2003 Mallards immediately. His responsibilities will include public speaking & he will also be a sales representative for the club all in the middle of putting together the ball-club.
?Darrell has a strong passion for this league and I think he has a great understanding of what it takes to be productive not only on the field but in the community and when you have the opportunity to get that kind of guy, you have to do it.? Added Stenman.
The Mallards 2003 season will open around June 4th at the Duck Pond at Warner Park. Mallard?s season tickets are available for only $150 for all 32 Mallards home games at the Mallards office.s