By IAN WILSON

We’ve seen dugout departures, coaching promotions and managerial musical chairs.

Such is the coaching carousel in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL).

While several teams have largely left their dugout designations intact, others have made major changes during the offseason.

Here’s a closer look at the coaching staffs across the WCBL:

WEST DIVISION

Sylvan Lake Gulls

The biggest shakeup in the West Division took place in central Alberta, where Jason Chatwood has moved on from his role as head coach of the Sylvan Lake Gulls. Coach “Chatty” was named the franchise’s first head coach in March of 2020 and guided the club through their inaugural 2021 season during a COVID-19 shortened campaign. He has been at the helm since that time and added the responsibility of general manager to his workload in 2022. During the regular season, Chatwood compiled a record of 179 victories and 85 losses over five years. In the postseason, he had a 12-10 record that included a run to the league championship final in 2025. The Innisfail product was named the WCBL Coach of the Year in 2024 when he led the Gulls to a 44-12 record.

“Jason is the main reason that the Gulls have been competitive right from that first season,” said Aqil Samuel, the president and chief operating officer of the Gulls in a press release.

“We appreciate everything he has done in the early years of our franchise, not only winning baseball games on the field, but helping build our culture, representing us in our community, and developing the young men that come through Sylvan Lake the last five years.”

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While Chatwood will remain with the team as the general manager of baseball operations, the man he recommended as his successor, Matt Hape, will enter the 2026 season as the head coach. The Bozeman, Montana native has served as the pitching coach for the Gulls over the last four years.

“We have witnessed Matt grow as a coach in his time in Sylvan Lake and feel he is ready for the next step in our organization. His dedication to winning, recruiting, developing players, and being part of this community make him a perfect fit as the second ever head coach of the Gulls,” said Samuel.

Wyatt McKnight will also return for a fifth season as an assistant coach with the Gulls.

“We have witnessed Wyatt’s dedication to player development, his tactical knowledge of the game, and his positive impact on the team environment. His commitment to excellence and familiarity with our organization make him a valuable asset,” said Samuel.

The Gulls fill out their coaching staff by adding Andrew Parks, a coach from Arizona Western College who has also worked with the Minnesota Twins as a hitting coordinator.

Fort McMurray Giants

The Giants have also made some major moves over the offseason.

Ray Brown guided the team as head coach for a third summer in 2025. The former skipper with the Edmonton Prospects, who led the Giants to their first playoff appearance in 2022, narrowly missed the postseason last summer. Fort McMurray went 20-35 during the 2025 season, finishing just behind the fourth-seeded Brooks Bombers, who claimed the final playoff spot in the West Division.

Taking over from Brown in 2026 is Dylan Cooper, who was a member of Fort McMurray’s coaching staff last season. The assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at West Virginia Wesleyan College has been with the Bobcats since 2023 and specializes in working with catchers and infielders. Prior to his time at Wesleyan College, Cooper was an assistant coach at Richland Junior College in 2022 and he spent four years at Arlington Baptist University (ABU) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The ABU graduate also brings summer collegiate baseball experience to the Giants. Cooper worked as a head coach in the Metro Summer Collegiate League for four summers, and as an assistant in the Cape Cod League for two years.

“I am excited to begin working with the outstanding group of players we have brought in, along with our excellent coaching staff,” said Cooper.

“I am also grateful for the opportunity to coach within the Fort McMurray Giants organization and look forward to the season ahead.”

Joining Cooper is new pitching coach Omar Rosado, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico. The former draft pick of the Montreal Expos has worked as a GM, head coach and pitching coach in Double-A baseball in Puerto Rico.

Tanner Hess, who was an All-Star infielder with the Giants in 2019 and an assistant coach in Fort Mac in 2025, is back with the coaching staff this year.

Lethbridge Bulls

While some Alberta clubs are making moves among their coaching ranks, others are standing pat, believing that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Lethbridge Bulls, a team that went 33-22 and finished third in the West Division in 2025, has re-upped its coaching staff for 2006.

Ryan MacDonald is back for his third straight season as the head coach of the Bulls, after serving as an assistant coach with the team for three consecutive summers before that. The Nova Scotia native played five seasons with Lethbridge and coached with the Bulls during their championship seasons in 2015 and 2021.

“We’re pretty excited with the guys we have coming in this year. We kind of filled some spots that we felt were lacking last year, so we’re pretty excited about the group we have coming in,” said MacDonald during an interview on The Bullhorn.

“Last year we felt we were kind of down in the stolen base department, so we tried to add some speed.”

Also back with the Bulls is pitching coach Josh Burgmann, a Vauxhall Academy of Baseball grad who was a fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 MLB Draft. He has been a part of the coaching staff in Lethbridge since 2023.

Myles Fletcher, a member of the Lethbridge Bulls during their inaugural season in 1999, returns as bench coach for a third straight summer.

Carlin Dick is another former Bulls player who is an assistant coach with the club. This is his second season coaching with the team.

Okotoks Dawgs

The Dawgs, who fell short of a title in 2025 following a three-peat of championships, also kept their coaching staff intact.

Mitch “Big Bear” Schmidt is expected back as manager after helping Okotoks finish atop the West Division standings with a 40-16 record in the regular season.

The Dawgs led the division in runs scored, hits, homers, RBI and total bases while posting the best fielding percentage in the WCBL last summer.

Joining Schmidt once again is skipper Lou Pote, who brings major league experience and a World Series ring to the home dugout at Seaman Stadium. The 54-year-old Chicago product pitched in the majors for the Anaheim Angels and professionally for the Edmonton Trappers, Cracker-Cats and Capitals.

David Robb – also known as “DR” – will serve as the hitting and bench coach. Robb is a member of the Okotoks Dawgs Hall of Fame, whose time coaching with the team extends back to when they first joined the league as a Calgary franchise.

Returning as well is pitching coach Joe Sergent, who was a draft pick of the Florida Marlins in 1999. The lefty moundsman took the bump for the indy league Calgary Vipers for three seasons and won a Golden League championship with them in 2009.

Rounding out the staff are infield coach Andy Peterson – an Oregon State University alum who was drafted in the 27th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners – and athletic therapist Savannah Blakley, who has been with the team since 2012.

Brooks Bombers

The Bombers have qualified for the WCBL postseason the previous two seasons and in two of the last three years.

If they hope to make the playoffs for a third straight summer, it will be with a new head coach guiding them.

Skipper Dylan DeBrouwer led the club to a 22-34 record in 2025, which was good for the final playoff berth.

Justin Gomez will take over from DeBrouwer for the 2026 season, according to a team announcement in December.

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“Gomez brings a wealth of baseball knowledge and experience to the Bombers,” said the club in a social media post.

“His passion for player development and advancement will serve our players and organization well as we look to build upon a strong 2025 campaign. He brings an offensive mindset, competitive drive, and is focused on bringing a winning culture to the City of Brooks.”

Gomez was a 2019 draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds and played professional baseball as a catcher for five seasons.

Energy City Cactus Rats

Jordan Blundell remains the head coach and assistant general manager of the Energy City Cactus Rats.

But he’ll have some new faces in the dugout helping him out.

Blundell – who joined the Edmonton Prospects in 2018 and was named the league’s coach of the year in 2008 as the skipper of the Sherwood Park Dukes – will no longer have Nick Salahub to lean on. Salahub had been the pitching coach with the team since 2022, but he is not returning this summer.

Filling in for Salahub is Ruddy Estrella, who spent the last two summers coaching with the Swift Current 57’s. Estrella has also worked as a coach with the Brooks Bombers and Regina Red Sox.

Also joining the coaching staff of the Cactus Rats is Dion Wintjes, a former catcher with the Edmonton Prospects. Wintjes will work backstops on the team and serve as an offensive coach.

The rebranded Energy City Cactus Rats – who played in previous seasons as the Edmonton Prospects – had a 20-35 record during their first summer in the WCBL.

EAST DIVISION

Moose Jaw Miller Express

Veteran bench boss Eric Marriott accepted a professional coaching position with the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League, opening up a spot for one of his top lieutenants in 2026.

Over four seasons as the head coach of the Miller Express, Marriott assembled a regular season record of 124 wins and 99 losses, while leading Moose Jaw to two WCBL finals appearances as East Division champs.

“Thank you to everyone in the Millers organization who believed in me as a player, coach, and most importantly as a person. The community of Moose Jaw has helped raise me and will always be my second home. It’s time for me to take the next step in my career,” said Marriott in a media release from the team.

“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and the support I have around me. Moose Jaw, this is not good bye, but simply see you later.”

Taking the baton from Marriott is Michael Gonzalez, who has been a long-time assistant coach and first base coach with the club.

“Becoming the head coach of the Millers has been a dream of mine since I became a part of the organization in 2022. Being able to maintain what Marriott and I built means a lot to me,” said Gonzalez.

“Taking the next step in my coaching career, with this community behind me, is very comforting. I know they expect great baseball, and with the roster coming along nicely, I feel we will be in for an exciting summer.”

Joining Gonzalez is Geoff Freeborn, who will serve as the pitching coach in Moose Jaw. The founder of Sidearm Nation has coached with the Edmonton Prospects and the University of Calgary Dinos. Freeborn was an All-Star pitcher with the Calgary Dawgs in 2003.

Saskatoon Berries

The reigning WCBL Coach of the Year will be back in the dugout with the Saskatoon Berries this year.

Joe Carnahan led the Berries to a record of 46-9 in 2025, his second season with the team. That wins total established a new high for regular-season victories in the WCBL, eclipsing the 44 wins the Sylvan Lake Gulls registered in 2024.

“The organization and front office holds a high standard in how we operate on and off the field. They provide our coaching staff and players with resources to be successful, and everything they do is first class. Mix all that in with the support we receive from the fans and the city, it makes Saskatoon a special place for players and coaches,” said Carnahan, who was also a winner of top coach in the league honours multiple times when he was the skipper of the Swift Current 57’s.

“Very fortunate to have a great coaching staff that not only did a good job with the players day-to-day, but also made it a lot of fun.”

Ryan Olchoway, who pitched for the Berries in their inaugural season in 2024, is back as the team’s pitching coach. He has also worked with pitchers in the Saskatoon Berries Baseball Academy program.

Olchoway will have the expertise of former MLB pitcher Dustin Molleken at his disposal. The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Famer, who took the mound with the Detroit Tigers and in Japan with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, has signed on with the Berries as a pitching consultant. Molleken held a similar role with the Miller Express in previous seasons.

Chance Wheatley – who won a WCBL championship as the head coach of the Lethbridge Bulls in 2021 – is returning as an assistant coach in Saskatoon for a third summer.

Regina Red Sox

After delivering the first WCBL championship to the Queen City since 2012, Rye Pothakos has signed on for another season with the Regina Red Sox.

The team made the announcement in December that Pothakos will return as the director of baseball operations and field manager with Regina.

“Rye has been a major part of our organization for more than a decade.,” said Gary Brotzel, the president of baseball operations for the Red Sox.

“His ability to consistently recruit a strong lineup has kept our club in contention year after year. That was never more evident than last season, when he stepped in late to fill key holes in our lineup and ultimately helped bring a championship back to Regina.”

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The Red Sox went 29-27 during the 2025 regular season and late summer roster churn made them heavy underdogs in the playoffs. Despite the loss of key players heading into the postseason, Regina upset the Mavericks, Berries and Gulls on their way to a championship title.

“I’m looking forward to another exciting year at Currie Field and working hard to provide our fans and community with another quality, talented team that we can all be very proud of,” said Pothakos.

Other personnel moves by the Red Sox include the return of Mitch MacDonald as assistant general manager. It’s his 12th season with the club after previously serving as a player, coach and GM in Regina. MacDonald remains the only player in WCBL history to win the Triple Crown after batting .476 with eight home runs and 48 RBI in 2010.

“Having Mitch MacDonald return with his experience is a valuable part of our team and management group,” said Pothakos.

“He brings a deep understanding of the organization and will be a great resource as we continue to build our program.”

Zane Pollon, a product of Wilcox, Saskatchewan who took the bump for the Red Sox in 2022 and 2023, has been signed as the pitching coach.

Rounding out the stable of dugout leaders are assistant coaches Jackson Alaniz and Braydon Cobb, as well as team trainer Todd Stewart.

“They all know this league and understand what it takes to be successful, including the culture and commitment needed day in and day out,” stated Pothakos.

Medicine Hat Mavericks

Ryan Reed has received a promotion in Medicine Hat.

The assistant coach with Mid-America Christian University also took on the role of assistant coach with the Mavericks in 2025. Following the playoffs, he was named as the head coach of the Mavs for this upcoming season.

“I’m looking forward to being back up in Med Hat and hopefully bringing back a majority of the guys to have a chance to make a special run,” Reed told Medicine Hat Newsreporter James Tubb.

The Mavericks went 34-21 during the regular season, the team’s highest wins total since 2018, before being swept by the Regina Red Sox in the opening round of the postseason.

“Obviously the postseason run was pretty disappointing, we had a very talented group that competed with every team in the league … we handled a majority of the Western Division, now it’s just taking that next step in the playoffs because that’s two years in a row we’ve been knocked down the first round,” said Reed.

“We really just have to emphasize depth on the mound and offensively, just a little more timely hitting in the postseason.”

Andrew Bench has been inked as the pitching coach for the 2026 campaign. The graduate assistant with the Milligan University Buffaloes in Tennessee pitched for two years with the Carson Newman Eagles.

David Dell, who was an outfielder with the Mavericks in 2022, has also joined the coaching staff as an assistant.

“He was a gritty player who will put the work in to help our players enjoy themselves while improving this summer,” said Greg Morrison, the owner and general manager of the Mavs.

Swift Current 57’s

When it came time to find a new head coach for the 57’s in Swift Current, the team called on Harv Martinez for help.

The legendary skipper from the days when the club played in the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL), the predecessor of the WCBL, was happy to lend a hand.

“Harv was great,” said 57’s President Jamie LeBlanc in an interview with Swift Current Online.

“He came in and helped with the interview process.”

The result was the hiring of Jared Franklin as the new head coach and general manager of the club.

“His extensive experience, leadership, and dedication to developing players on and off the field align perfectly with our vision. Jared’s passion for community engagement and his focus on building a championship-calibre culture will help us continue growing as both a team and a cornerstone of the Swift Current community,” stated LeBlanc in a news release.

The 57’s had the worst record in the WCBL in 2025, going 10-45 under head coach Ruddy Estrella.

Franklin, an assistant coach with the Yorkton Cardinals in the WMBL in 2011, is hoping to turn the page on those last-place results.

“Recruiting successfully is having the contacts … but then also, when we do get those guys that they have a good experience and they go back to their universities and say, man, that was awesome, send more guys up there. Hopefully with some of my connections, I can get some of those guys right away with that,” said Franklin during an October press conference.

Franklin has decades of coaching experience, including a recent tenure as the head coach at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, where he helped launch a new baseball program in 2022. He has been running baseball camps in Saskatchewan for several years, as well.

“My hope is that I’d like to see some consistency with this position,” said LeBlanc.

“We were very fortunate for 20-plus years to have Harv and then for 10 or 12 years to have Joe (Carnahan). It feels like every year after that, we’ve kind of just been, a new guy, a new guy, a new guy. I ultimately hope that this works out and Jared likes it where he works out well for the program, and this is our next long-term coach.”

Weyburn Beavers

The Beavers are maintaining a consistent approach in their dugout.

Cam Williams is being welcomed back to Tom Laing Park for his fourth season as head coach in 2026.

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Williams – who played for the Beavers as a corner infielder and pitcher from 2015 through 2018 and set a number of offensive team records – posted a 16-40 record with Weyburn in 2025. The team finished in fifth place in the East Division and has not qualified for the postseason since 2019.

Williams is also the head coach at the University of Calgary. He led the Dinos to the program’s first ever Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) championship title in 2023.

Joining Williams is Jaxon Henderson, who is taking on the role of pitching coach. The native of Snohomish, Washington appeared in nine games as a right-handed pitcher for the Beavers in 2025.

Meanwhile, John Prette serves as the play-by-play voice of the Beavers during home games and as the bench coach when the team hits the road.