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Published On: January 30th, 2024

Waterloo, Iowa – The Waterloo Bucks have announced Darrell Handelsman will return as the team’s field manager for the 2024 season.  Handelsman is the all-time winningest manager in Bucks history with 197 victories.  The veteran skipper returns for his second consecutive year in the Waterloo dugout, his sixth season as the team’s manager overall.

“I’m excited to return to Waterloo for another summer,” said Handelsman.  “The organization is first class, the city is great, and our fans are the best!  The front office is really fun to work with and I look forward to getting back.”

Last season, Handelsman led Waterloo to a 37-31 record, the second-best mark in the Great Plains East Division.  Handelsman became the winningest manager in the history of the organization with a 16-14 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats on June 2, giving him his 162nd win as Waterloo’s skipper.

A veteran manager in summer-collegiate baseball, Handelsman holds 792 career wins with six different teams in a career spanning 20-plus seasons.  Prior stops include the Kenosha Kroakers (Northwoods League, 1997-98), Waterloo Bucks (NWL, 1999-2002), Madison Mallards (NWL, 2003-04), Fayetteville SwampDogs (Coastal Plain League, 2005-13), Green Bay Bullfrogs (NWL, 2013-16), and Alton River Dragons (Prospect League, 2021-22).

Handelsman currently ranks second in NWL regular season wins with 446 and is the winningest postseason manager in league history with 12 victories.  In addition, Handelsman has won two NWL titles, earning trophies with the Bucks in 2002 and Madison in 2004.

“Darrell is a coaching legend and we’re very happy to have him back in the Bucks dugout for another summer,” said Waterloo general manager Dan Corbin.  “Skip has great connections throughout college baseball, relates well with his players, and his mindset sets all of his teams up to be winners.  Opening Day can’t get here fast enough!”

Handelsman played collegiately at San Francisco State University.  His coaching career began as an assistant at Los Angeles Valley College, followed by New Mexico Highlands University, Cochise College, San Jose State University, and Centenary College.  Handelsman currently resides in Roseville, Minnesota.

Season Tickets, Coupon Books, and Group Outings for the 30th season of Bucks Baseball are currently available by calling the Bucks Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633.  Team ownership has invested nearly $450,000 in Riverfront Stadium improvements since the end of the 2014 season including a 474-square foot LED Video Board, group outing areas, painted bleachers, public Wi-Fi, sound system, kids zone inflatables, wiffle ball field, and concessions equipment.  Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com or utilizing the Northwoods League Mobile App.

 

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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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, over 325 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bucks as your favorite team.