October 22, 2012

Hollod to manage Stingers for fourth year   
Willmar’s only manager in franchise history returns for another Northwoods League season  
 
WILLMAR, MN-   The Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League announced today that Matt Hollod will return for his fourth season as Manager for the 2013 season. Hollod managed the Stingers to a 42-28 record in 2012 winning the North Division second-half title, qualifying for the playoffs while also setting a team record in wins.
 
The Stingers saw their record-best season come to an end as Mankato won a best of three game series in the North Division Playoffs. The MoonDogs eventually fell in the Northwoods League Championship Series to the LaCrosse Loggers.
 
Hollod, in three years as manager for the Stingers, has a total of 119 wins which is second in league history for a manager in his first three years. Those 119 wins also rank him 12th all-time in the league which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2013.
 
During the first two years at the helm for the Stingers, Hollod nearly got the Stingers into the playoffs but fell just short with identical records of 39-31.  In the first three years of a Northwoods League franchise, no other team in the history of the League has had a better winning percentage (.569) than Hollod’s Stingers.  

“Matt Hollod is one of the best managers in the league. His success over the past three years is clearly the reason why we feel it’s important to have him back for another year.” Willmar Stingers Co-Owner Ryan Voz said. “To have a manager back for four seasons is very important and Matt truly enjoys his time in Willmar.”
   
Hollod is currently the head coach at Wilkes University, located in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania. He took over the program last fall after spending the last three years as the associate head coach at DeSales University in Center Valley Pennsylvania. Hollod has also been an assistant coach at Southern Utah University and Willamette University (Salem, OR) and the University of Portland.

Prior to his coaching career, Hollod was a four-time letter winner in baseball at the University of Washington and the University of Portland. He was an honorable mention All-West Coast Conference selection during his junior season where he was a consistent starter for the Pilots on the mound. As a hitter, Hollod led the team with a .346 average in his final season in Portland. He also played two summers in the Northwoods League for the Grand Forks Channel Cats.

Hollod and the Stingers front office will sign players this fall and winter in preparation for the 2013 season. In the next few weeks, the Stingers will announce which returners and new players will be a part of the fourth season roster.
 
The 2013 schedule will be released this fall; however, season tickets for the upcoming year are now available. For more information regarding this story please visit Willmarstingers.com or wctrib.com.  For season ticket pricing, please call 320-222-2010, visit WillmarStingers.com.   The 2013 season is presented by Charter.