A baseball coach from Nanaimo will be returning to his hometown to coach the NightOwls next summer.
The West Coast League ball club announced Thursday, Oct. 17, that Cody Andreychuk has been hired as the next head coach, replacing Greg Frady, who stepped down earlier this week.
Andreychuk, who played for the Nanaimo Pirates and the Vancouver Island University Mariners, currently lives in Pikeville, Kentucky, where he is the head coach of the University of Pikeville Bears.
"I'm grateful and humbled for the opportunity to be the next baseball coach for the Nanaimo NightOwls…" he said in a press release. "I'd like to thank [ownership and management] for believing in a local guy to come in and lead this program at historic Serauxmen Stadium."
Andreychuk has been head coach at UPike since 2021, and the Bears team posted a 30-19 record during this past spring's season.
Frady has been the only head coach in NightOwls history, leading the club to an overall record of 74-88 over his three years in the dugout. According to a press release, the Fradys are dealing with hurricane damage to their property in Port Charlotte, Fla., a factor in the coach's decision to resign.
"It has been an honour to help start a new team," he said in a statement. "The players, coaches and staff made the experience great. I had envisioned being with the team for many years, because I truly loved the Nanaimo people. However, I feel it is best to step down."
NightOwls general manager Tina Cornett said Andreychuk is a "perfect fit" to fill the role of head coach.
"He has a track record of developing players and winning games and will bring that local pride to the NightOwls," she said.
Andreychuk already coaches NightOwls players Riley Paulino and Richtter Castillo at UPike, and has WCL experience himself, as he played for the Kelowna Falcons in 2013.
He said growing up in Nanaimo and playing with the Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association are still some of his most cherished memories.
"I hope we can impact the youth the same way I was impacted growing up playing baseball in Nanaimo," he said.
We're very excited to welcome Cody Andreychuk home to Nanaimo, AND Serauxmen this upcoming season, as the new Head Coach of YOUR Nanaimo NightOwls
— Nanaimo NightOwls WCL (@wclNightOwls) October 16, 2024
🛈 https://t.co/KaAhmZzVQS#NightOwls #IlluminateTheDark #BreakingNews #WCL #Nanaimo #YCD pic.twitter.com/Tyzwcbp00t
