(Mankato, MN) — The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is proud to announce the signing of assistant coach Jason Nell to their 2005 coaching staff.

Nell comes to the MoonDogs via Iowa Lakes Community College, where he has served as the head coach for Lakers over the past three seasons. In his time at the helm, Nell has increased the programs’ winning percentage every year, and in 2003-2004 led the Lakers to their first 30-win season in recent memory.

With that 30-win season, the Lakers became nationally ranked, another first in recent memory. In his three years as head coach, Iowa Lakes and Nell have produced five All-Americans.

"Coach Nell brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and expertise with him as well as invaluable experience as a former player,” MoonDogs head coach Rob Huffstetler said. "Knowing both sides of the game as well as he does makes him a great asset to the staff.”

Over the past nine seasons, Nell has put together an impressive coaching resume. Starting in his final season of play for University of Wisconsin River Falls, Nell took the reigns as head coach of the Somerset, WI, High School team. After finishing school in 1996, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant in 1997 and 1998.

He spent the summer of ’98 in New York as a specialist at a private sports camp before joining Loras College (Dobuque, IA) for 3 years as an assistant, while he earned his master’s degree in sports administration. From there he took the head coaching position he currently holds at Iowa Lakes and has also spent the last two summers as the head coach of the Estherville American Legion team.

"I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to come to Mankato this summer. It’s a great city, a great atmosphere and a great organization. I just can’t wait to get there,” Nell said. "Baseball has been part of my entire life, and with the opportunity to coach at such a high level I am really excited to be part of it.”

"Jason is the final piece in the puzzle of the MoonDogs coaching staff. With the vast amount of coaching experience he has and his love for the game, we feel he can really help the MoonDogs chances in making a bid for the playoffs,” MoonDogs general manager Kyle Mrozek said.

Nell, a native of Milwaukee, is married to the former Lisa Olson of Hudson, Wisconsin.

The MoonDogs home opener is set for June 6, 2005, against the St. Cloud River Bats. Season tickets, group tickets, and single game tickets are all on sale now. Call the MoonDogs office at 507-625-7047 or check out www.mankatomoondogs.com for more information.