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Rainiers Unveil 2013 Coaching Staff

Brown and Bernard return, Johnson joins staff
December 17, 2012

TACOMA, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik and Director of Player Development Chris Gwynn have announced the coaching staff for the Tacoma Rainiers 2013 season.

Manager Daren Brown is slated to return for his seventh season with the Rainiers and his 13th overall in the Mariners organization. Brown became the winningest manager in Tacoma franchise history last season after clinching his 376th victory in the Rainiers win over the Tucson Padres on May 28.

The Holdenville, Oklahoma native has amassed a 927-846 (.523) record over a 15-year managerial career that began in 1998 with the independent Amarillo Dillas and has included stops at San Bernardino, Wisconsin, Inland Empire and San Antonio.

Dwight Bernard will again serve as the Rainiers pitching coach in 2013 - his 10th season in the Mariners organization and his seventh as the pitching coach at Tacoma since 2006. He previously logged coaching stops at Clinton, San Antonio and Inland Empire, and he has served as a pitching coordinator in the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins organizations.

Bernard put together a 12-year professional pitching career, including big league stints with the New York Mets (1978) and Milwaukee Brewers (1981-82).

Howard Johnson has been added as the Rainiers hitting coach in what will be his first season in the Mariners organization. Johnson previously worked in various capacities within the New York Mets system the past 11 seasons, most recently serving as the club's Major League hitting coach for three seasons from 2008-10.

Johnson played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, hitting 228 home runs and producing 760 RBI over a combined 1,531 games with the Detroit Tigers (1984), New York Mets (1985-93), Colorado Rockies (1994) and Chicago Cubs (1995). He played for the World Series-winning Tigers (1984) and Mets (1986) teams, and he led the National League with 38 home runs and 117 RBI following his 1991 campaign.

Athletic Trainer Tom Newberg will once again lead the Rainiers medical and conditioning team in what will be his seventh season at Tacoma and 27th overall as a trainer in the Mariners organization. Joining him will be Athletic Trainer B.J. Downie and Performance Coach Rob Fumagelli.

To purchase season tickets, group packages or party decks for the 2013 season, please call (253) 752-7707 or email [email protected]. Up-to-date news and notes leading up to the season can be found at www.tacomarainiers.com and by following the Rainiers on Twitter or liking the team on Facebook