Crawdads Texas Rangers Announce Crawdads 2010 Field Staff
Published on December 7, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - The Texas Rangers, Major League parent club of the Hickory Crawdads, have announced the 2010 Field Staff for Hickory. The Crawdads will be led this season by Manager Bill Richardson, who will be assisted by Pitching Coach Brad Holman and Hitting Coach Jason Hart. Athletic Trainer Jeff Bodenhamer and Strength and Conditioning Coach Ryan McNeal are also both returning for their second season with the Crawdads.
Richardson, 49, begins his first season at the helm of the Crawdads, and fourth overall as a member of the Rangers organization. He spent the past two campaigns as the manager for the Arizona League Rangers (Rookie). He began his coaching career in the high school ranks and most recently served as the head coach at Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks, California, from 2005-08, after spending seven seasons as the head coach at Del Campo High School, also in Fair Oaks. Richardson resides with his wife, Lindy, in Carmichael, California.
"I'm really looking forward to my first season with the Crawdads," said Richardson. "Not only am I excited about managing and continuing to teach the great young talent in the Texas system, but I am also excited about getting the chance to live in Hickory and experience the South, which is a region that I have never really lived in before but have always heard great things about."
Holman, 41, enters his second season both as the pitching coach with the Crawdads and with the Rangers organization in general. Holman served as the pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve, during the 2008 season. The Wichita, Kansas, native had previously spent six seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization, including stints as Double-A pitching coach with West Tennessee in 2007 and San Antonio in 2006. Holman pitched professionally from 1990-96, spending time in the Seattle, Baltimore, Colorado, San Diego, and Kansas City organizations, including 19 relief appearances with the Mariners in 1993. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two daughters, Jessi and Tiffani, and reside in Wichita.
"It's great to return to Hickory and to the Crawdads for the second straight year," Holman said. "I enjoyed living in the community last season, and I'm excited to help further develop some of the great young arms that we have in this system. I also can't wait to get back to town and cast some lines in Lake Hickory!"
Hart, 32, begins his second full season in the Rangers system, and first as hitting coach for the Crawdads. In 2009, the Springfield, Missouri, native served as the hitting coach for the Arizona League Rangers (Rookie), after assisting the Rangers former Single-A affiliate, the Clinton LumberKings, throughout part of the 2008 season. He played professionally for parts of eight seasons from 1998-2006, with stints in the Oakland, Texas and Minnesota organizations. He saw Major League action with the Rangers in 10 games during the 2002 season. Hart and his wife, Jenny, have a daughter named Kloe.
Bodenhamer, 34, returns for his second season as the Crawdads athletic trainer and sixth in the Rangers system. He held the same role with the Bakersfield Blaze (High-A) in 2008 and the Clinton LumberKings (Low-A) from 2005-07. The High Point, North Carolina, native graduated from Greensboro College in 1998 and currently resides in Newberry, South Carolina.
McNeal, 28, also returns for his second season as the strength and conditioning coach with the Crawdads, as well as second with the Rangers organization. He spent the 2008 season in the same capacity with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Low-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. McNeal resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 2007.
The Crawdads begin the 2010 season on the road in Hagerstown on Thursday, April 8, before the Home Opener at L.P. Frans Stadium against the Kannapolis Intimidators on Friday, April 16. Click hereto view the Crawdads full 2010 regular season schedule, and keep an eye on Hickorycrawdads.com for single game ticket information for the 2010 season.
*Crawdads Clippings:* Santa Claus is coming to town, and will be at the Crawdads Christmas Party at L.P. Frans Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 12. The party will be from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and is FREE to attend! Come out and take your picture with Santa, make Christmas crafts, enjoy the tunes of Soundstorm DJs, run the bases like the pros, compete in sack races, show your skills at musical chairs and more!
The Crawdads will also wrap your gifts for just $2 apiece, and fans can finish up their holiday shopping at the Crawdads Team Store, while they enjoy FREE popcorn, hot chocolate and candy canes! Plus, if you donate two non-perishable canned food items at the party, you'll receive a complimentary ticket voucher to an April or May game!
For more information on the Crawdads Christmas Party, visit Hickorycrawdads.com or call the Front Office at (828) 322-3000.
*Get Tickets: *Ticket Books, group outings and corporate partnerships for the 2010 season are available right now at the Crawdads Front Office or by calling (828) 322-3000.
South Atlantic League Stories from December 7, 2009
- Crawdads Texas Rangers Announce Crawdads 2010 Field Staff - Hickory Crawdads
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