Fran Riordan Returns as Manager for 2025 Campaign; Aviators® Season Opener on Friday, March 28 vs. Reno at Las Vegas Ballpark®
(Las Vegas, NV) – February 5, 2025 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today, in conjunction with the A’s Communications Department, that Fran Riordan will return for his eighth season as manager for the A’s Triple-A affiliate
(Las Vegas, NV) – February 5, 2025 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today, in conjunction with the A’s Communications Department, that Fran Riordan will return for his eighth season as manager for the A’s Triple-A affiliate for the 2025 campaign and his seventh season (including 2020) with the Aviators. Riordan is the 25th manager in the history of the Las Vegas franchise (1983 – 2019, 2021-24; 41 seasons). Riordan served as manager for the A’s Triple-A affiliate in Nashville during the 2018 campaign. He is a two-time Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year (2019 & 2023).
The Aviators coaching staff was also announced as Paul Abbott and Don Schulze were each named pitching coach; Brian McArn returns as hitting coach and Kevin Kouzmanoff was named assistant hitting coach. Dave Comeau returns as athletic trainer; Jake Routhier returns as athletic trainer and Steven Thayer returns as sport performance coach.
Riordan (pronounced REAR-den), 49, has compiled 24 seasons overall in professional baseball and has been a member of the Athletics organization for the past 10 seasons (2015-24).
He has compiled an overall managerial record over 23 seasons of 1,309-1,271 (.507). He ranks eighth among active leaders in minor league managerial wins (entering the 2025 season).
Triple-A Las Vegas: He has a five-year record of 368-346 (.515) and is Las Vegas’ all-time leader in managerial wins.
“I’m really excited to start another season of Aviators baseball,” Fran Riordan said. “Our expectations are really high this year and our goal is to bring a PCL Championship to the passionate and deserving fans of Las Vegas!”
In 2024, the Aviators compiled an overall record of 74-75 (.497) and finished in fourth place in the Pacific Coast League West Division.
In 2023, he was named PCL Manager of the Year for the second time in four seasons and led Triple-A Las Vegas to an overall record of 75-74 (.503) and finished in third place in the PCL West Division.
In 2022, the Aviators compiled an overall record of 71-79 (.473) and finished in third place in the PCL West Division. In 2021, he guided the Aviators to an overall record of 65-61 (.516) in Triple-A West (Western Division) and finished in third place. In 2020, with the Minor League Baseball season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Riordan worked with the Athletics' 60-man player pool at the team's alternate training site located in San Jose, California.
In 2019, he was named Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year and led Triple-A Las Vegas to the second-best record in the 16-team PCL (83-57, .593) and the Aviators captured the Pacific Southern Division Championship. Las Vegas returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and lost to Sacramento, 3-games-to-2, in the conference championship series. The 83-57 record marked a single-season franchise record for winning percentage at .593 (140-game season).
In 2018, he made his Triple-A debut as manager with the Nashville Sounds and compiled an overall record of 72-68 (.514) and finished in second place in the American Southern Division to the PCL and Triple-A National Champion, the Memphis Redbirds. Nashville compiled a PCL-best 15-game winning streak from July 29 – August 14.
In 2017, he compiled a record of 67-71 (.486) with Double-A Midland and his squad captured the Texas League Championship. The prior two seasons, he was the skipper of Single-A Beloit of the Midwest League.
Before joining the Athletics organization, Riordan spent four seasons as manager of the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League (2011-14). He led the team to two playoff berths and is the all-time Frontier League leader in wins with 625. He was a 2014 Frontier League Hall of Fame inductee. Prior to his time with Florence, he managed the Northern League’s Lake County Fielders (2010) and Kalamazoo Kings for six seasons (2004-09), leading the Kings to the 2005 Frontier League title. He also served as player-manager in the Frontier League from 2000-02, leading the Richmond Roosters to back-to-back-league championships in 2001 and 2002.
The Virginia Beach native played seven seasons of professional baseball as a first baseman/outfielder (1997-2003) after playing college baseball at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.
FRAN RIORDAN’S MANAGERIAL RECORD
YEAR, CLUB, LEAGUE, W-L, PCT., FINISH
2000: Dubois County, Frontier (Ind.), 35-47,.427, 5th
2001: Richmond, Frontier (Ind.), 49-35,.583, 2nd – League Champions
2002: Richmond, Frontier (Ind.), 53-31,.631, 2nd – League Champions
2004: Kalamazoo, Frontier (Ind.), 51-45, .531, 3rd
2005: Kalamazoo, Frontier (Ind.), 53-43, .552, 1st – League Champions
2006: Kalamazoo, Frontier (Ind.), 47-49, .490, 4th
2007: Kalamazoo, Frontier (Ind.), 51-45, .531, 3rd
2008: Kalamazoo, Frontier (Ind.), 60-36, .625, 1st – Lost League Finals
2009: Kalamazoo, Frontier (Ind.), 58-38, .604, 1st – Lost League Semifinals
2010: Lake County, Northern (Ind.), 41-59, .410, 7th
2011: Florence, Frontier (Ind.), 39-57, .406, 6th
2012: Florence, Frontier (Ind.), 57-39, .594, 2nd – Lost League Finals
2013: Florence, Frontier (Ind.), 53-43, .552, 3rd – Lost League Semifinals
2014: Florence, Frontier (Ind.), 41-55, .427, 5th
2015: Beloit, Midwest (A), 55-84, .396, 7th/5th
2016: Beloit, Midwest (A),59-80, .424, 6th/8th
2017: Midland, Texas (AA), 67-71, .486, 2nd/3rd - League Champions
2018: Nashville (AAA), Pacific Coast, 72-68, .514, 2nd
2019: Las Vegas (AAA), Pacific Coast, 83-57, .593, 1st – Lost League Semifinals
2020: Minor League Baseball season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Las Vegas (AAA), Triple-A West, 65-61, .519, 3rd
2022: Las Vegas (AAA), Pacific Coast, 71-79, .473, 3rd
2023: Las Vegas (AAA), Pacific Coast, 75-74, .503, 3rd
2024: Las Vegas (AAA), Pacific Coast, 74-75, .497, 4th
TOTALS Managerial Record (23 years): 1,309-1,271 .507
Las Vegas Franchise All-Time Managers List (1983-2019, 2021-24):
1983, Harry Dunlop (83-60, .580)
1984-85, Bob Cluck (136-144, .486)
1986, Larry Bowa (80-62, .563, PCL Champions)
1987, Jack Krol (69-73, .486)
1988-89, Steve Smith (148-135, .523, ’88 PCL Champions)
1990, Pat Kelly (58-86, .403)
1991-92, Jim Riggleman (139-145, .489)
1993-94, Russ Nixon (114-172, .399)
1995, Tim Flannery (61-83, .424)
1996-98, 2005-06, Jerry Royster (323-387, .455)
1999, Mike Ramsey (67-75, .472)
2000, Duane Espy (30-20, .600)
2000, Tony Franklin (43-50, .462)
2001, Rick Sofield (68-76, .472)
2002, Brad Mills (85-59, .590, PCL Manager of the Year)
2003, John Shoemaker (76-66, .535)
2004, Terry Kennedy (67-76, .469)
2007-08, Lorenzo Bundy (141-146, .491)
2009, Mike Basso (71-73, .493)
2010, Dan Rohn (66-78, .458)
2011-12, Marty Brown (150-137, .523)
2013-16, Wally Backman (309-267, .536) – 2014 PCL Manager of the Year
2017, Pedro Lopez (56-86, .394)
2018, Tony DeFrancesco (71-69, .507)
2019, Fran Riordan (83-57, .593, PCL Manager of the Year)
2020, Minor League Baseball season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021, Fran Riordan (65-61, .516)
2022, Fran Riordan (71-79, .473)
2023, Fran Riordan (75-74, .503, PCL Manager of the Year)
2024, Fran Riordan (74-75, .497); (LV career manager record: 368-346, .515, L.V. all-time leader in wins)
Las Vegas Triple-A Affiliation History:
San Diego Padres, 18 seasons (1983-2000), 1,227-1,329 (.480), 7 playoff appearances
Los Angeles Dodgers, 8 seasons (2001-08), 561-586 (.489), 1 playoff appearance
Toronto Blue Jays, 4 seasons (2009-2012), 287-288 (.499), 0 playoff appearances
New York Mets, 6 seasons (2013-18), 436-422 (.508), 2 playoff appearances
Athletics, 5 seasons (2019, 2021 - present), 368-346 (.515), 1 playoff appearance
ALL-TIME RECORD: 2,879-2,971 (.492)
The Las Vegas Stars/51s/Aviators have captured the PCL Championship twice (1986 & 1988) and appeared in the playoffs 11 times (21-32 record, .396).
Paul Abbott enters his second season overall in the Athletics organization and his first season with Triple-A Las Vegas as pitching coach. In 2024, he served as pitching coach with Double-A Midland of the Texas League.
Abbott has 15 years of coaching experience between the Boston and Athletics organizations. He coached at several levels in the Red Sox organization. He was the pitching coach for three seasons for Triple-A Worcester of the International League (2021-23). Prior to that, he coached with the Short-Season Lowell Spinners for two seasons (2011-12), Single-A Greenville Drive for two seasons (2013-14), High-A Salem Red Sox for three seasons (2015-17), Double-A Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League for two season (2018-19), and Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League in 2020.
Abbott was originally selected by Minnesota in the third round of June 1985 First Year Player Draft. He played in parts of 11 Major League seasons with Minnesota (1990-92), Cleveland (1993), Seattle (1998-2002), Kansas City (2003), Tampa Bay (2004) and Philadelphia (2004). He appeared in 162 career Major League games (started 112) and posted a 43-37 record with a 4.92 ERA. He allowed 682 hits and struck out 496 batters in 720.2 innings pitched. He was a member of the 1996 Triple-A Las Vegas Stars (San Diego Padres) of the PCL. He appeared in 28 games and posted a 4-2 record with seven saves and a 4.18 ERA. He allowed 27 hits and struck out 37 batters in 28.0 innings pitched.
Don Schulze enters his 20th season overall in the Athletics organization and his first season with Triple-A Las Vegas as pitching coach. In 2024, he served as pitching coach with Single-A (High-A) Lansing of the Midwest League.
Schulze has 19 years of coaching experience that began with the A’s rookie-level affiliate in 2006. Since then, he has served as the pitching coach with Single-A Kane County of the Midwest League for two seasons (2007-08), Single-A Stockton of the California League for two seasons (2009-10), Double-A Midland of the Texas League for five seasons (2011-14, 2017), Triple-A Nashville of the Pacific Coast League (2015) and Single-A Beloit of the Midwest League for four seasons (2016, 2018-20). Prior to joining Las Vegas, he served four seasons as pitching coach with Lansing (2021-24).
Schulze was originally selected by Chicago Cubs in the first round (11th overall pick) of the 1980 draft. He played in parts of six Major League seasons with Chicago Cubs (1983-84), Cleveland (194-86), New York Mets (1987), New York Yankees (1989) and San Diego (1989). He appeared in 76 career Major League games (started 59) and posted a 15-25 record with a 5.47 ERA. He allowed 422 hits and struck out 144 batters in 338.2 innings pitched. He also pitched three seasons for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan and concluded his playing career with Triple-A Rochester (Baltimore) in 1993.
Brian McArn returns to Triple-A Las Vegas for his fifth season. He will serve as hitting coach for his fourth season with the Aviators and was the assistant hitting coach in 2021. In 2024, he completed his 26th season overall in the Athletics organization. He spent three seasons as hitting coach (2018-2020) for Single-A Stockton of the California League.
His minor league coaching career includes: three stints as hitting coach for Single-A Stockton of the California League for a total of seven seasons (2011-12, 2014-15, 2018-20); Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League for four seasons (2021-24); Double-A Midland of the Texas League hitting coach for four seasons (2004, 2013, 2016-17); Triple-A Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League for six seasons (2005-10); the A's former Single-A affiliate in Modesto of the California League where he served as hitting coach for six seasons (1998-2003).
Prior to joining the A’s organization, he spent one season as the hitting coach for Single-A Vermont of the New York-Penn League. He has been a minor league coach for a total of 28 seasons (including 2020) and began his coaching career at American River Junior College in Sacramento, where he served as assistant coach.
McArn was selected by the Athletics in the 26th round of June 1991 First-Year Player Draft. He spent two seasons in the A’s organization before injuries ended his career in 1992.
Kevin Kouzmanoff enters his seventh season overall in the Athletics organization and his first season with Triple-A Las Vegas as assistant hitting coach. In 2024, he served as hitting coach with Single-A (High-A) Lansing of the Midwest League.
His professional coaching experience includes: coaching debut as hitting coach with Short-Season, Single-A Vermont of the New-York Penn League in 2019, Double-A Midland of the Texas League in 2021, Single-A Stockton of the California League for two seasons (2022-23) and Lansing in 2024. He joined the A’s organization after spending the 2018 season as an assistant coach with Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Kouzmanoff was selected by Cleveland in the sixth round of June 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He played in parts of seven Major League seasons with Cleveland (2006), San Diego (2007-09), Athletics (2010-11), Colorado (2011) and Texas (2014). He appeared in 685 career games and batted .257 (650-2,525) with 143 doubles, eight triples, 87 home runs and 371 RBI. He established career highs in home runs (23 in 2008) and RBI (88 in 2009).
Dave Comeau enters his third season as athletic trainer with Triple-A Las Vegas. Before joining the Athletics organization, he served as athletic trainer in the New York Yankees organization for rookie-level Florida Complex League Yankees in 2022. He spent the previous seven seasons in the Atlanta organization (2015-21). He served as athletic trainer for Florida Complex League Braves in 2021 and served as infection control prevention coordinator for the Braves’ alternate site in 2020. He served four seasons as athletic trainer for Atlanta’s Single-A affiliate (2016-19) and one season with the Braves rookie-level affiliate in 2015. He previously worked in the Boston organization in 2012 as an assistant athletic trainer for Single-A Salem.
He attended Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., where he received his B.S. in athletic training in 2006 and received his M.S. in injury prevention and performance enhancement from California University of Pennsylvania in 2015.
Jake Routhier enters his sixth season overall in the Athletics organization and his second season with Triple-A Las Vegas as athletic trainer. Before joining Las Vegas, he served as head athletic trainer with Double-A Midland of the Texas League in 2023. He also served as head athletic trainer with Single-A Lansing of the Midwest League in 2022, Single-A Stockton of the California League in 2021 and in the Dominican Summer League in 2019.
Prior to joining the A’s, Routhier worked as an intern for the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.
Steven Thayer enters his fourth season overall in the Athletics organization and his second season with Triple-A Las Vegas as sport performance coach. He spent the 2023 campaign as sport performance coach with Single-A Lansing of the Midwest League. Prior to joining Lansing, he served as sport performance coach with Single-A Stockton of the California League in 2022.
Prior to joining the Athletics organization, he served as sports performance coach in the Dominican Summer League for the San Francisco Giants in 2021. Before his time in professional baseball, he oversaw strength and conditioning programs for multiple varsity sports at Mater Dei High School. Additionally, he spent time as an assistant strength coach for the Michigan State basketball and volleyball teams and as an intern with Cal football.
He graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and has a master’s degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University. He holds nine certifications in the strength and conditioning field.
The Aviators will open their 42nd season (1983-2024) in the Silver State against intrastate rival, the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on Friday, March 28 at Las Vegas Ballpark®.
2025 Las Vegas Aviators season ticket information and group hospitality packages are available by calling the Aviators administrative offices at (702) 943-7200 or emailing [email protected].
Official licensed Aviators team merchandise is available on the “Team Shop” section of the website at www.aviatorslv.com.
About Las Vegas Aviators®
The Las Vegas Aviators® have the proud distinction of being Nevada’s longest enduring professional sports franchise.
The 2025 campaign will mark the 43rd calendar season in the Silver State as a proud member of Triple-A professional baseball of the Pacific Coast League and the sixth season in Las Vegas Ballpark (8,196).
The Aviators led all minor league baseball in 2019 attendance with a total of 650,934 for an average of 9,299. Las Vegas recorded 47 sellouts and 23 crowds of 10,000+.
In 2021, Las Vegas led Triple-A West in home attendance with a total of 428,369 for an average of 6,590.
The Aviators were the recipient of the 2021 Baseball America Triple-A Freitas Award, given to the organization of the year at each level of the Minor Leagues.
In 2022, Las Vegas led the PCL in home attendance with a total of 518,221 for an average of 6,910. It marked the second-highest attendance total for a single season in franchise history.
In 2023, Las Vegas recorded back-to-back seasons with 500,000+ home attendance (506,047 for an average of 6,838).
In 2024, Las Vegas home attendance was 481,802 in 74 dates for an average of 6,511 with 12 sellouts. In five seasons at Las Vegas Ballpark, the Aviators have recorded 93 sellouts.
The Stars (1983-2000)/51s (2001-18)/Aviators (2019 - present) have reached 300,000+ in “home” attendance in all 41 seasons (36 seasons at Cashman Field, 1983-2018; Las Vegas Ballpark, 2019, 2021-24). The Aviators completed their fifth season in 2024 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics and the franchise won the PCL championship in 1986 and 1988.
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Contact:
Jim Gemma
Media Relations Director
Las Vegas Aviators, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics
(702) 493-4510