Oklahoma native Mike Boulanger replaces Tim Ireland as RedHawks' manager
May 11, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release
Oklahoma native Mike Boulanger was named to replace Tim Ireland today as manager. The Texas Rangers relieved Tim Ireland of his duties today due to philosophical differences.
Ireland, 53 and in his first season as RedHawks' manager, had served seven games of a 10-game suspension resulting from on-field arguments with umpires May 3 in Round Rock at the time of his dismissal.
"For the benefit of all parties involved, including Tim, we felt the timing was right for this decision", stated John Lombardo, Director of Minor League Operations for the Texas Rangers. "We are grateful to Tim for his years of service to the organization and are extremely confident in the leadership of Mike Boulanger to our valued partner in Oklahoma City."
"We support the Texas Rangers decision", said Scott Pruitt, general managing partner. "After providing teams that have won three out of the last four division championships, we are confident the Rangers are dedicated to putting a winner in Oklahoma City."
The 56-year old Boulanger is a native Oklahoman who attended Ponca City High School and makes his off-season home in Broken Arrow, Okla. Boulanger served two stints as an assistant baseball coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1977 - 1981, 1984 - 1987 and was the head coach at Oklahoma City University in 1982 - 1983.
He also served as head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette from 1987-94.
Boulanger has twice been named National Coach of the Year at the collegiate level. He's been in the Rangers' organization since 2003, serving two seasons as hitting coach at Class A Clinton (Iowa). As Oklahoma's hitting coach in 2005, Boulanger helped lead the RedHawks to the highest-scoring offense in the Pacific Coast League.
Boulanger has professional managing experience, having spent three seasons as a manager in the Boston organization prior to joining the Rangers. He piloted Lowell of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League in 2002 after spending two playoff seasons at the helm of Class A Augusta. He also spent five years in the Minnesota Twins' organization.
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