Field Manager – Darrell Handelsman
On January 30, 2024, the Waterloo Bucks announced Darrell Handelsman would 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.
Pitching Coach – Jack Nathan
Nathan returns to Waterloo for his second season after 2023 saw him as not only an assistant manager, but a pitcher for the Bucks’ out of necessity while continuing to do his coaching duties under Handelsman. Nathan, a former pitcher at High Point University, concluded his playing days in 2023 after a five-year college career with the Panthers. Nathan currently coaches at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa.
Coach – Matthew Rehfeldt
Rehfedlt joins the Bucks’ 2024 coaching staff after his first year as an assistant coach with the Kalamazoo College baseball program. Prior to joining Kalamazoo, Rehfeldt served as the varsity pitching coach for South Lyon East High School, an assistant for Team Elite travel baseball, and a private instructor at EL1 in Clinton Township, MI. Before becoming a coach, Rehfeldt graduated from Olivet College (now the University of Olivet) where he was a pitcher for the Commets.
Coach – Caleb Millikan
Millikan joins the coaching staff after finishing his Graduate year as a member of the Hawaii-Pacific baseball team. Coming out of Berkley, CA, Millikan looks to dip his foot into the coaching game after concluding his college eligibility with the Sharks. The Waterloo Bucks is the first coaching experience of Millikan’s career.
WATERLOO BUCKS MANAGERIAL RECORDS
MANAGER | RECORD | AWARD | YEAR |
Darrell Handelsman | 197-139 | 1999 – 2ND HALF CHAMPS | 1999-2002, 23 |
2000 – NWL RUNNERS-UP, 1ST HALF CHAMPS | |||
2000 – NWL MANAGER OF THE YEAR | |||
2001 – 1ST HALF CHAMPS | |||
2001 – NWL MANAGER OF THE YEAR | |||
2002 – NWL CHAMPIONSHIP, 2ND HALF CHAMPS | |||
Eric Snider | 161-86 | 1996 – NWL CHAMPIONSHIP, 1ST/2ND HALF CHAMPS | 1995-98 |
1996 – NWL MANAGER OF THE YEAR | |||
1997 – NWL RUNNERS UP, 2ND HALF CHAMPS | |||
1998 – 1ST/2ND HALF CHAMPS | |||
Travis Kiewiet | 130-81 | 2013 – 1ST/2ND HALF CHAMPS | 2012-14 |
2013 – NWL MANAGER OF THE YEAR | |||
Scott Douglas | 87-107 | 2016-18 | |
Jason Nell | 65-75 | 2010-11 | |
Casey Harms | 62-48 | 2019 – 1ST HALF CHAMPS | 2019-20 |
2020 – MINNESOTA-IOWA REGION CHAMPIONSHIP | |||
Pete Lauritson | 57-77 | 2008-09 | |
Andy Haines | 52-76 | 2003-04 | |
Ryan Gaynor | 42-25 | 2021 – 1ST/2ND HALF CHAMPS | 2021 |
2021 – GREAT PLAINS EAST CHAMPS | |||
Tony Manville | 31-41 | 2015 | |
Dan Fitzgerald | 29-38 | 2007 | |
Corey Allen | 28-40 | 2006 | |
Jason Shockey | 22-46 | 2005 | |
Tyler Willis * | 16-52 | 2022 | |
JD Eaton * | 8-14 | 2018 | |
* Interim Manager |