The league also 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.
HEAD COACH: BRIAN LEWIS
Brian Lewis is the newly appointed field manager of the Minot Hot Tots, bringing over a decade of coaching expertise and a strong history in the Northwoods League. With eleven seasons under his belt, including successful tenures with the La Crosse Loggers and St. Cloud Rox, he led the Rox to a remarkable 50-win season and a playoff run in 2022. Currently serving as the hitting coach at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort, Lewis combines his extensive experience with a passion for developing talent. He is excited to be part of the Minot community and looks forward to an amazing 2025 season with the Hot Tots.
FIRST BASE COACH: ELI BRUM
Coach Brum, a former catcher from Bakersfield, California, played for California State University, Bakersfield, from 2019 to 2021 and later for the Bismarck Bullmoose under Coach Mitch Gallagher. His coaching experience includes over five years with the Bakersfield Waves, a year with the Garciaparra Baseball Group in Los Angeles, and a season of high school coaching. Currently, Brum is a Graduate Assistant at Hinds Community College in Mississippi, specializing in catchers and hitters. 2024 marks his second summer with the Minot Hot Tots.
HITTING COACH: NIKKI VISONE
Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Nikki Visone graduated from Cimarron Memorial in 2013. After starting at Mt. San Jacinto CC, he finished his playing career at Edgewood College with a .400 OBP. Transitioning to coaching, Visone first worked at Legacy High School in Las Vegas, then moved to Salem State University as the hitting, catching, and 3rd base coach, where the Vikings won their first conference title since 2016. He also coached for the Hoptown Hoppers before joining the staff at Missouri Valley College. Currently, Nikki is a graduate assistant at Seattle University and heads baseball operations at Boost Baseball Facility in Bellevue, WA.
PITCHING COACH: TYSON ELLIS
Coach Ellis, a former pitcher from Pensacola, Florida, played at Pensacola State College in 2019, posting a 4-2 record with 6 saves and earning 2nd Team All-Conference honors. He then transferred to Troy University, where he began as a weekend starter before the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the disruption, he logged 13 innings with 14 strikeouts and a .235 BAA before injuries ended his playing career. This season marks Coach Ellis’s second year coaching, and his expertise is expected to be a valuable asset to the Hot Tots.
