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Waterloo, Iowa – After leading the franchise to a 42-30 record in 2025, the Waterloo Bucks are excited to announce that field manager Darrell Handelsman
will be returning to the team in 2026. Handelsman currently serves as the head coach at Olney Central Community College, a position he has held for two spring seasons. This will be Handelsman’s eighth season in Waterloo.
In 2025, the Bucks finished with the second-best overall record in the Great Plains East Division of the Northwoods League. The sixth game of the season marked Handelsman’s 500th victory for his NWL career and on June 17, he notched his 500th career regular season win. Handelsman is the winningest manager in team history, with 276 victories, and ranks as the third-winningest manager in NWL history, with 525 victories.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Darrell back for another season in Waterloo,” said general manager Dan Corbin. “He is as excited as I am for the opportunity to chase a championship while continuing to build upon the culture that has been created in our clubhouse. Skip will continue to do an outstanding job leading our players.”
A veteran manager in summer-collegiate baseball, Handelsman 
holds 871 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 is the second 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.
“I’ve been fortunate to spend many summers in Waterloo and I always look forward to returning and seeing all of the amazing fans and host families,” said Handelsman. “It’s been fun to work with an incredible staff, especially our GM, Dan Corbin, who makes everything there possible for the players and coaches to have a great summer. I’m looking forward to pursuing another NWL championship for the Bucks.”
Handelsman’s 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 played collegiately at San Francisco State University.
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Group Outings, Season Tickets and Flex Plans for the 2026 season are currently available online at www.waterloobucks.com or by calling the Bucks Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633, while single-game tickets are available online only. 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.
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’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 400 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com) and 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.