Rogues Finalize 2015 Coaching Staff
October 28, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Medford Rogues News Release
MEDFORD, OR - The Medford Rogues today completed the team's 2015 coaching staff, with Head Coach Josh Hogan and Pitching Coach Jeff Lyle returning for a third year in Medford and a fourth year working with Rogues General Manager Chuck Heeman. Returning for a second consecutive season is Assistant Coach Max Gordon while Assistant Coach Aaron Nielsen returns from the 2013 staff after taking a the 2014 season off for family reasons.
"I can't say enough about our coaching staff, they are the best at what they do and I'm honored to be associated with them," Heeman said. "Josh and the staff are all about the process, developing players on and off the field and motivating them to better things in life as well as in baseball. Of course we want to win and we recruit to that, and we also recruit players who are hungry to learn more than just balls and strikes. Josh, the staff and I work very well together and we've become more of a family than working associates. Getting Aaron Nielsen back is a huge step forward for us. Aaron is one of the best motivators and mindset coaches I've ever met. We're already deep into finding the right players for 2015 and I'm very happy to go to battle with these guys."
Hogan enters his eighth West Coast League season; two as a player (Corvallis), two as an assistant coach (Cowlitz) and fourth as a head coach (Klamath Falls 2012, Medford 2013-present). Hogan went 26-28 (following a 2-18 start) with Klamath Falls in 2012, missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker. He led the inaugural Medford Rogues (30-24) to a playoff berth in 2013, the first WCL team to reach the playoffs in its first season. In 2014 the Rogues finished 26-28, staying in the playoff race until the final week of the season. Hogan also coached with George Horton on the University of Oregon staff for three years.
Lyle begins his fourth season as a WCL pitching coach. His 2012 Klamath Falls Gems pitching staff set a league record with 407 strikeouts, a record broken in 2014 by Wenatchee (468). Lyle joined Hogan in Medford for the 2013 season and remains with the team.
Josh Hogan on Jeff Lyle:
"This will be my fourth consecutive year working together with Jeff and I couldn't ask for a better pitching coach, loyal competitor and friend," Hogan said. "He is one of the best pitching coaches in the west because of his deep knowledge of the game/mechanics, ability to manage a staff, communication skills and the list could just keep going. He has a love for the game and relationship with players that is unmatched. His mental and physical toughness is unrivaled and he radiates that to the players."
Gordon started his summer coaching career in 2014 with the Rogues after starring at Oregon State. He will again serve as the base coach and assist with infield coaching and in-game player positioning.
Josh Hogan on Max Gordon:
"Max is was and still is one of the fiercest competitors in the game of baseball," Hogan said. "His determination, toughness, and spark plug mentality that he brings to the club can't be rivaled. Like the other coaches though, what makes Max special is his ability to cause young men to live up to their full potential on and off the field"
Nielsen rejoins the Rogues staff after a year off that included having his first child (Blakely Mae) and getting married to Calli Ann. Nielsen's background includes working with athletes from around the nation and coaching under various capacities. In addition, Nielsen operated with a clinical psychologist in Hawaii and is a college professor at several colleges around the nation (online). Over the past several years, Nielsen has coached in the NWAACC conference, was the pitching coach for Medaille College in Buffalo, New York, coached the professional Roswell Invaders to a league championship in 2011. He coached with Hogan in both Klamath Falls and Medford, and has traveled the nation developing his company Harmony Baseball.
Josh Hogan on Aaron Nielsen:
"Coach Nielsen's great positivism will be mostly appreciated as the team's mental and physical strength coach as well as the Asst. Pitching coach and bullpen coach," Hogan said. "Basically the only way a person can explain Aaron if they have met him is that he is the most selfless and genuine human they have ever met. That is my opinion too and his presence is greatly anticipated back in Medford. What he brings to the table in terms of motivation and positive energy was missed greatly last season and we are thrilled to have him back in the family."
The 2015 WCL schedule will be released as soon as it is available. Season tickets and other ticket plans are on sale now by calling the team at 973-2883 or e-mailing info@medfordrogues.com.
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West Coast League Stories from October 28, 2014
- Rogues Finalize 2015 Coaching Staff - Medford Rogues
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