Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Scores
All Scores Triple-A Scores Double-A Scores High-A Scores Single-A Scores Rookie Scores
Schedule
Complete Game Schedule Triple-A Schedule Double-A Schedule High-A Schedule Single-A Schedule Rookie Schedule Sync Schedules
Teams
Teams by Affiliate Teams by Name Teams by Class Teams by League Ballparks
Watch
Watch Games Subscribe Highlights Prospect Highlights Streaming FAQ Help Center Gameday Audio Podcast Bally Sports Live
Tickets
Tickets
Shop
MiLB Store Auctions Shop Copa Shop Marvel
Standings
Full Season Rookie Leagues Playoffs Playoff Procedures
Stats
Full Season Rookie Leagues Trending Players Top Prospect Stats
News
Pipeline Transactions Copa de la Diversión Baseball Traveler Malmö Oat Milkers MiLB App MiLB Newsletters Sweepstakes & Contests
Prospects
Top 100 Top 30 by Team Top 50 International Draft Top 250 Trending Players
Playoffs
MLB

Van Tol to Return as Boise Hawks Manager

By Mike Safford
December 18, 2013

CHICAGO, Ill. -Gary Van Tol will return for his second season as manager of the Boise Hawks, as the Chicago Cubs announced today the staff of each of their eight minor league clubs.

Van Tol, who previously served as the Hawks bench coach from 2008-12, will be joined by hitting coach Bill Buckner and pitching coach Brian Lawrence.

A native of Pincher Creek, Alberta, Van Tol led the Hawks to a 41-35 record in 2013, winning the Northwest League South Division pennant -losing to Vancouver in three games in the NWL Championships Series. He has served as the director of the Idaho Cubs, a local prep travel team, for the past four years, along with handling associate scout duties for the Cubs. The graduate of Gonzaga University has been an assistant coach at his alma mater, along with the University of Portland, while serving as the head coach at both Centralia Community College in Washington in 1995 and locally at Treasure Valley Community College from 1997-2001.

Buckner is in his third year with the Hawks - with his hitters leading the NWL in batting average and home runs each of the past two seasons. The 22-year MLB veteran served as the Chicago White Sox hitting coach in 1996 and 1997 and was the manager of the Brockton Rox of the CanAm League in 2011. Buckner played for the Cubs from 1977-84 - winning the 1980 National League batting crown and earning a spot in the 1981 All Star Game. A resident of Boise, Buckner played in 2,199 major league games with the Dodgers, Cubs, Red Sox, Angels, and Royals, hitting .289 with 174 career home runs and 1,208 RBI. Buckner played in two World Series' - in 1974 with the Dodgers and 1986 with the Red Sox.

Lawrence is a newcomer to the Hawks and the Cubs organization after spending last season as the pitching coach for the San Diego Padres Advanced-A affiliate in Lake Elsinore. A six-year MLB veteran, the former Northwestern State hurler won 50 games in the big leagues with the Padres and Mets, including a 15-win season in 2004.

The Cubs have also announced that Toby Williams will serve as the Hawks athletic trainer, with a strength and conditioning coach to be determined at a later date.

Seven other former Boise Hawks will coach in the Cubs system this year - including the entire staff of the Class-A Kane County Cougars, as Mark Johnson returns as manager, Tom Beyers returns as hitting coach, and David Rosario is the pitching coach. Johnson was Boise's manager in 2011 and 2012; Beyers was hitting coach in 2001-03 and 2005, while serving as manager in 2004 and from 2007-08; with Rosario spending six seasons as a pitching coach in Boise. Former hitting coaches Ricardo Medina and Desi Wilson remain in the organization - Wilson with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, while Medina is with the Arizona League Cubs. Two former players are also in the coaching ranks - 2001 Hawks pitcher Angel Guzman is the pitching coach for the Venezuelan Summer League affiliate, while Oscar Bernard, a catcher on the 2005 squad, is the hitting coach for the Dominican Summer League squad.

The defending Northwest League South Division champions will open the 76-game 2014 season at home on June 13 with a five-game series against Tri-City. Season-tickets, group packages, and bonus-books are available by calling 322-5000.