Dash announce 2013 coaching staff
Pitching coach J.R. Perdew is back for his second straight season with the Dash. Perdew also coached Winston-Salem's hurlers in 2006 and 2007.
Rob Sasser returns to the Triad as the Dash's hitting coach after spending 2008-2011 in Winston-Salem. Sasser was a 13-year Minor Leaguer and briefly made it to the big leagues in 1998 with Texas.
After a two-year stint with Double-A Birmingham, Josh Fallin reclaims his spot as Winston-Salem's athletic trainer. Fallin was in Winston from 2001-2010. Tim Rodmaker will join the Dash as the strength and conditioning coordinator. He enters his eighth season in the White Sox minor league system after spending 2012 with Class A Kannapolis.
Newman led Chicago's Rookie-level affiliate Great Falls to a postseason berth in 2012, one year after helping the Voyagers claim the Pioneer League's crown.
The son of former American League All-Star Jeff Newman, he managed Rookie-level Bristol in 2009 and 2010. His managerial career began with Detroit's Minor League system in 2008.
Tommy Thompson, the CL's Manager of the Year in 2012, will be the boss in Kannapolis after helping the Dash to a full-season Minor League-best 87-51 record this past season.
Gary Ward, Winston's hitting coach in 2012, will fill the same role for Birmingham in 2013. Cory Barton will join Thompson in Kannapolis after spending the last two seasons with the Dash.
The new coaching staff will suit up for the first time April 5 at Carolina. The Dash open up the home slate one week later against those Mudcats at BB&T Ballpark.
The home opener is one of seven marquee games within the Dash's Holiday Plan, which features seven games for just $77. For more information or to purchase your plan, please call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com online.