Bobby Jones returns as RedHawks' skipper in 2009
Scott Coolbaugh has been named coach, Terry Clark pitching coach, Jason Roberts trainer and Ric Mabie strength/conditioning coach.
Jones, 59, is the franchise's winningest manager with 568 wins for the 89ers/RedHawks over three stints (1993-94, 2002-05 and 2007-present). Approaching his 22nd consecutive season as a manager, coach, or instructor with Texas, Jones is also the Rangers' all-time leading minor league skipper with 1,285 victories at various levels.
Under Jones' guidance, the RedHawks won division titles in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2008. This past season, the RedHawks added the American Conference title, winning a first-round series and advancing to the Pacific Coast League Championship Series before falling to the Sacramento River Cats three games to one.
Jones was recently honored with the 2008 Mike Coolbaugh Award, presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field. A former player in numerous organizations including Texas, Mike Coolbaugh was struck by a line drive and killed while coaching first base for the Tulsa Drillers in 2007.
"We are pleased to have Bobby back with the team this season," said Scott Pruitt, the RedHawks' co-owner and managing general partner. "He is an outstanding manager and leader in our organization, his accomplishments are known throughout minor league ball and we are fortunate to have him on our coaching staff again."
Former Oklahoma City 89er Scott Coolbaugh, 42, Mike's older brother, will handle hitting and position player coaching duties. Entering his third season in the system, Scott Coolbaugh was the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders' hitting coach the previous two years.
Scott Coolbaugh previously managed in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system at the Double-A level in 2003 and 2004 with El Paso of the Texas League, in addition to two seasons in the Class A California League at High Desert (2000) and Lancaster (2003). He also served as the hitting coach at El Paso in 1999 and 2002.
Scott Coolbaugh played third base for the 89ers for parts of the 1989-90 seasons before appearing in 167 games over four seasons with Texas, San Diego and St. Louis. He was selected by Texas in the third round of the 1987 amateur draft after an All-American career at the University of Texas.
Also promoted from Frisco is pitching coach Terry Clark, 48, a member of the first RedHawks' team in 1998. Clark spent the previous three seasons as the RoughRiders' pitching coach, helping guide them to the Texas League's best record in 2008 at 84-56.
Prior to joining Frisco, Clark spent five seasons as a coach in the Cleveland organization at Triple-A Buffalo (2003-04), Double-A Akron (2001-02) and Class A Mahoning Valley (2000).
Clark played professional baseball for 20 years and spent parts of six seasons in the major leagues, including the 1997 season with the Rangers (1-4, 5.87). He led the 1998 RedHawks in wins with a 12-5 record and 3.38 ERA, topping the club with 24 starts and 165.1 innings pitched.
He was originally selected by St. Louis in the 23rd round of the 1979 draft. During his professional career, he played for 10 different organizations (St. Louis, California, Houston, Cleveland, San Diego, Atlanta, Baltimore, Kansas City, Texas and Oakland). After breaking into the majors in 1988 with California, he appeared in 91 career games at the big league level and posted a 10-23 record with one save and a 5.54 ERA.
Jason Roberts has been named the RedHawks' athletic trainer. A native of Canberra, Australia, Roberts begins his third year in the Texas organization and first at Triple-A after spending last year at Frisco. Roberts worked for five years in the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization at Class A Vero Beach, Columbus (Ga.) and Rookie-level Gulf Coast. A 2001 graduate of Middle Tennessee State with a bachelor's degree in athletic training, Roberts played two seasons with the Blue Raider baseball team as a left-handed pitcher.
Ric Mabie will return for this third season as strength/conditioning coach.