Familiar faces return to Wizards dugout

Fort Wayne, IN - For the second time since becoming an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, the Fort Wayne Wizards will have a familiar face as manager. Doug Dascenzo was named on Monday as manager of the Wizards, announced Grady Fuson, Padres Vice President for Scouting and Player Development.

Dascenzo is in his 10th season in the Padres' minor league organization and third year as a manager. He will be joined in the dugout by pitching coach Tom Bradley, who held the same role with Fort Wayne in 2006 and was with the Eugene Emeralds last year. The hitting coach will be Tom Tornincasa, who was in the same capacity for the Wizards from 2000 until 2004 and was part of the San Antonio Missions Texas League championship in 2007.

"The coaching staff coming to Fort Wayne this year is very strong," Wizards General Mike Nutter said. "All three of our coaches have extensive experience in the San Diego system and all three are familiar with Fort Wayne."

Former Wizards manager Randy Ready and former hitting coach Max Venable were both assigned to the Portland Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Padres. Former pitching coach Steve Webber was named the pitching coach of San Antonio and Wally Whitehurst, who was the Fort Wayne pitching coach in 2007, will serve as pitching coach for the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League.

Previous Managers and Coaching Staffs for the Fort Wayne Wizards as an affiliate with the San Diego Padres:

1999 - Season Manager: Dan Simonds; Pitching Coach: Tony Phillips; Hitting Coach: Eric Bullock.
2000 - Season Manager: Craig Colbert; Pitching Coach: Darren Balsley; Hitting Coach:Tom Tornincasa.
2001 -Season Manager: Tom Lawless/Don Werner; Pitching Coach: Mike Harkey; Hitting Coach: Tom Tornincasa.
2002 - Season Manager: Tracy Woodson; Pitching Coach: Gary Lance; Hitting Coach: Tom Tornincasa.
2003 - Season Manager:Gary Jones; Pitching Coach: Mike Harkey; Hitting Coach: Tom Tornincasa.
2004 - Season Manager: Randy Ready; Pitching Coach: Steve Webber; Hitting Coach: Tom Tornincasa.
2005 - Season Manager: Randy Ready; Pitching Coach: Steve Webber; Hitting Coach: Max Venable.
2006 - Season Manager: Randy Ready; Pitching Coach: Tom Bradley; Hitting Coach: Max Venable.
2007 - Season Manager: Doug Dascenzo; Pitching Coach: Wally Whitehurst; Hitting Coach: Bob Skube.
2008 - Season Manager: Dough Dascenzo; Pitching Coach: Tom Bradley; Hitting Coach: Tom Tornincasa.