Silver Hawks announce coaching staff
Haley has been the skipper for the Silver Hawks since 2005, compiling a 361-329 regular season record and a 14-12 playoff record. Haley holds the club record for regular season and playoff wins, having qualified for the postseason in each of his five seasons at the helm.
Even with a young and inexperienced squad in 2009, Haley led the Silver Hawks to the postseason yet again, coming within four outs of upsetting the eventual champion Fort Wayne TinCaps in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs.
"To me, stability is crucial in the Minor Leagues," said Mike Berger, Arizona's Director of Player Development. "Mark Haley knows what buttons to push for players at that level. He's been there, done that, and had a lot of success in doing so."
Joining Haley on the 2010 staff will be hitting coach Francisco Morales, pitching coach Wellington Cepeda, athletic trainer Brian Czachowski, and strength and conditioning coach Jordan Wolf.
"I think it's great to have Mark Haley back as manager once again," said Joe Kernan, President of the Silver Hawks. "In addition, the rest of the staff has experience in South Bend which is great for both the team and the community."
Morales enters his third season as hitting coach for the Silver Hawks, and sixth season overall with the Diamondbacks organization. Signed in 1991, Morales played in the Cubs, Cardinals, and Expos farm systems, reaching triple-A in 1997 and 1999. Among his highlights as a coach, Morales worked with current Arizona slugger Gerardo Parra at the Diamondbacks academy in the Dominican Republic and also taught '09 Silver Hawks infielder Reynaldo Navarro to become a switch hitter.
Cepeda returns to South Bend after spending the past two seasons in the same role with the Diamondbacks high-A affiliate in Visalia, California. Cepeda was the pitching coach for the Hawks from 2005-2007, winning a championship ring with the '05 club. As a player, Cepeda spent four seasons as a pitcher in the Diamondbacks system, including the 1998 and 2000 seasons with the Silver Hawks.
Czachowski, a graduate of Western Illinois University, begins his third season in the Diamondbacks organization, all as the trainer for South Bend.
Wolf will report to South Bend for the first time in 2010, having served as the strength and conditioning coach with the Yakima Bears in 2009.
The Silver Hawks open the 2010 Midwest League season on April 8th at Coveleski Stadium against the Great Lakes Loons. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.silverhawks.com or call (574) 235-9988.