Rock Cats GM Moving On

Published on October 27, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - After spending eleven productive years in the New Britain Rock Cats front office - the last four as the Eastern League club's General Manager - 34-year-old John Willi is departing the Hardware City to join DSF Sports Group, a New England-based entity that owns two Minor League Baseball teams - the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Bowling Green Hot Rods - with hopes of expanding further.

A Long Island, NY native and 2009 Eastern League Executive of the Year, John Willi joined New Britain shortly after an investment group led by William Dowling and Coleman Levy purchased the Connecticut franchise in 2000. Within a year, the Binghamton University graduate was named New Britain's Assistant General Manager and, in November of 2006, was appointed the popular club's VP and General Manager. Simultaneous with his service over the past eleven seasons, the Rock Cats' annual attendance has grown more than 100%. In the just-concluded 2010 Season, a franchise record 368,523 patrons turned out to experience the fun and excitement that Rock Cats Baseball has become.

John Willi remarked, "It has been an incredible eleven years with one of the best organizations in baseball. I am very proud to have been a part of what the Rock Cats have achieved, and what the team has come to represent to the community and the people of Connecticut. I am profoundly grateful for all that I have learned and the friendships I've been able to develop in New Britain and throughout the League. While I will miss this place dearly, it will remain with me forever. The Rock Cats have the best front office in the Eastern League and with Bill Dowling's continued leadership, they will be successful for many seasons to come".

New Britain President & CEO Bill Dowling expressed his appreciation for Willi's service to the organization: "John has been with us from the very beginning and, over the past decade, has been a tireless and reliable colleague. We deeply appreciate the dedicated leadership and organizational acumen he brought to his duties here in New Britain. Everyone associated with the Rock Cats joins me in wishing John and his family the very best as he takes on these new responsibilities".

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Eastern League Stories from October 27, 2010


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