Kirk Shrider – Field Manager

Kirk Shrider will begin his 4th season as the Field Manager for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in 2024. Prior to becoming the field manager Kirk spent 4 seasons as the hitting coach and infield coach for the Rafters under Craig Noto. In Kirk’s time in Wisconsin Rapids the Rafters have had the pleasure of being part of 5 NWL Division Championships with 2016 leading to The Northwoods League Championship. Coach Shrider has also coached 4 NWL All-Star teams as well during his time in Wisconsin Rapids. In 2017 Coach Shrider was a part of a Rafters team that set a league record at the time for the most wins ever in a Northwoods League season going 52-20. The 2022 Wisconsin Rapids Rafters squad managed by Coach Shrider would go 57- 15 setting the current record for most wins in a regular season.

Coach Shrider has spent many years coaching and scouting. He began his coaching career at the high school level before moving into coaching at the college level. Having coached at Harbor College (JUCO) and Hope International College, Hope was where he helped establish the baseball program in 2016. They would go on to make an appearance one year later in the NAIA World Series while winning not only the Conference Championship, but also the Conference Tournament.

Prior to coaching, Kirk worked from 1993-1995 in the Milwaukee Brewers organization scouting Southern California. From 1995-2001 Coach Shrider worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau out of the MLB Commissioner’s office where his responsibilities were covering the Western Region. Some of his other duties included pro coverage as well as advanced scouting for Team USA in the Pan American Games and Olympics.

 

Mike Spears – Pitching Coach

Mike Spears has 20+ years of playing/coaching experience with five of those years pitching professionally. He works with College, Minor League and current MLB Pitchers. Spears is no stranger to summer ball coaching two summers in the West Coast League (17’and19′). He was also the pitching coach for the Glacier Range Riders in the Pioneer League(22′) and collegiately at San Diego Christian College (18′) and Johnson University(23′).

His goal is to assist his pitchers with development in their mechanics, mental aspects of pitching along with performance. He brings passion, desire and a very strong work ethic along with strength and conditioning knowledge. He wants to share his experiences and educate players on and off the field.

Chris Willsey – Hitting Coach

A native of Harrisburg, Illinois, Chris Willsey enters his first season with Rafters and second season in the Northwoods League. Willsey spend the 2023 season, as a hitting coach for the Wausau Woodchucks. In the summer of 2022, Willsey was the Field Manager for the Lafayette Aviators of the Prospect League. Willsey’s first summer collegiate coaching stop began in 2021 as a hitting coach for the Madisonville Miners of the Ohio Valley League. 
 
Currently, Willsey is in his second year as the hitting coach/recruiting coordinator at Kaskaskia College. Willsey began his college career at Southeastern Illinois Community College from 2020-2022 as a hitting coach. Willsey has also been an Associate Scout for the Atlanta Braves since May of 2021. Willsey currently resides in Centralia, Illinois with his dog, Cooper.