Canaries Name New General Manager
Published on October 4, 2004 under Northern League (NL)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
(SIOUX FALLS, SD) âThe Sioux Falls Canaries announced today that John Kuhn, a 14-year veteran of minor league baseball, has been named Executive Vice-President/General Manager of the Northern League franchise. Kuhn, 36, replaces John Hindle who resigned at season's end to return to his family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
"I'm excited about the potential of this market," said Kuhn. "Mike (Veeck) and I have always thought that Sioux Falls is a great baseball area. We have a beautiful stadium and the market seems open to new ideas. I'm not big on making blanket promises or guarantees but I know we'll have a lot more fun in 2005."
Kuhn has considerable baseball pedigree. He played three years of varsity baseball at Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN. He joins the Canaries after two seasons with the current Northern League Champion Saint Paul Saints where he served as Director of Corporate Sales and New Business Development. He has also worked for two other Northern LeagueâJoliet (Director of Corporate Sales) and Madison (Director of Sales and Marketing). Kuhn has previous GM experience, having served in the dual role as President/General Manager of the Kalamazoo (MI) Kodiaks (1998) and the London (Ontario) Werewolves.
His 1999 London team, with current Schaumburg manager Andy McCauley at the helm, won the Frontier League championship while leading the circuit in many different offensive categories. Under the tutelage of Mike Veeck, Kuhn started his professional career with his hometown teamâthe Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. "I am fortunate to not only count Mike as my mentor but also as a very close friend," Kuhn said. "In fact Mike is the one who kept whispering in my ear, âSioux Falls, Sioux Falls,' until I finally came out and looked over the market. He loved his time here and I hope we will be able to replicate some of his early success. If anyone, anywhere has comments or ideas, I welcome them to call me at the office or at my home (371-9178)"
"John will bring a wealth of experience, ideas, and energy to the park," said Mike Veeck from his Charleston, SC home. "I can assure you nobody will outwork him."
Kuhn, his wife Jennifer and two and a half year-old son TJ, moved to Sioux Falls the day after the Saints won the Northern League title with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the 9th in the fifth and deciding game. "Literally within twenty hours of the Saints championship, we hit the road. I'll be carrying that feeling with me for a long time and I just hope that the folks in the Sioux Empire get the chance, if only once, to feel that sort of elation."
Northern League Stories from October 4, 2004
- Northern League Appoints Randy Hoback Supervisor of Umpires - NL
- Canaries Name New General Manager - Sioux Falls Canaries
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