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September 9, 2009 - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks will stay with the manager that won them a Frontier League title as they make their move to the Northern League.
The team announced Wednesday that Bob Koopmann has been retained as the team’s manager. Koopmann, who managed the team to the 2004 pennant, is in his second stint as skipper.
“Bob has managed our ballclub for five years,” co-owner and director of baseball operations Dave Ciarrachi said. “Bob had one of the better records in the Frontier League. This was the frst year we were under .500. He’s not satisfied; I’m not satisfied, because it’s a combined effort when you have a winning season or a losing season.”
The RiverHawks were 44-50 this year and finished fourth in the Frontier League West for the second season in a row. The RiverHawks had played .500 or better in each of their first seven seasons. They will play in the Northern League next week.
“I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in the Northern League,” Koopmann said. “It’ll be a definite challenge.”
The RiverHawks also announced that veteran outfielder/first baseman Rich Austin, who played for the team during Koopmann’s first three years, would return as a player/coach. The remainder of the 2010 staff will be announced at a later date.
Koopmann managed the RiverHawks in 2002-04. The 2004 team went 59-37 and won Rockford’s first pennant since the 1950 Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Koopmann resigned in December 2004 to become head coach at the Franciscan University. He rejoined the team in 2006 and spent two seasons as the bench coach under then-manager J.D. Arndt. Koopmann resumed managerial duties in 2008. Koopmann has an all-time record of 244-216 (.530). He is eighth on the Frontier League’s all-time wins list.
Koopmann has also been the head coach at NCAA Division III Rockford College for the last three seasons. He has won two Northern Athletics Conference titles and coached two All-Americans there.
Koopmann, 45, was Pittsburgh’s eighth-round pick in the 1983 draft.
The RiverHawks are members of the Northern League, an eight-team independent professional baseball league that will play its 18th season in 2010. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Most games are broadcast live on ESPN 1380 (WTJK-AM) and the internet. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks online at www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
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