Head Coach- Troy Gerlach

 

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs would like announce the hiring of Troy Gerlach as Field Manager for the 2010 season. Troy comes to Mohawk Valley after serving as the hitting coach during the 2009 season for the NYCBL Champions, Amsterdam Mohawks.  Amsterdam finished ranked 13th in the country with a 32-12 record.  They led the league in homeruns (29) and team batting average of .290.  The .290 average also led all wood bat leagues through out the country.  “I would like to thank Travis and Dave for the opportunity to coach the Diamond Dawgs.  I spent last summer in Amsterdam and played in Mohawk Valley a number of times and was very impressed with how the team was ran and the support of the community.  I look forward to getting to know the community and representing Mohawk Valley on the field.” 

Troy, is currently in his second year at Paradise Valley Community College where he works with the catchers and hitters.  2009, marked the inaugural season for Paradise Valley in which they won the regular season championship and came with in two wins of making it to the Junior College World Series, reaching a top ten finish in the national ranking.  Prior to Paradise Valley, Troy, spent five seasons with the Arcadia High School Titans. He began as an Assistant Coach at Arcadia (2004-2006) and was co-Head Coach for the 2007-2008 season. Troy was honored as the East Sky Region Co-Coach of the Year in 2008 when the Titans, for the first time in school history, won the Regional Championship. 

Troy has also been the Head Coach of the Los Angeles Angels Arizona Scout team which went 23-7 in 2008. The team played in the 2007 Connie Mack Regional Tournament where they placed third. Troy has also coached professionally for the Surprise Fighting Falcons (2005) of the Independent Golden Baseball League; St. Johns & Paul High School in Ohio (2002-2003) and for his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University, (1999-2002).

Troy played two years at Pratt Community College in Kansas before transferring to Northwest Missouri State University where he played another two years. Troy earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and his master’s degree in Athletic Administration from NMSU. Troy currently teaches PE at Tavan Elementary School in Phoenix. Troy and his wife, Terra, reside in Phoenix. “I will do my absolute best to put a winning team on the field, however, I can guarantee that my team will play hard and compete every single day!” 

Assistant Coach: Justin Parrish

Justin Parrish is currently in his third season as assistant coach at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Justing  will be responsible for developing the pitching staff with the DiamondDawgs this summer. In addition to his pitching coach duties, Justin will also be the strength and conditioning coach. Justin joins the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs  after a successful playing career which started at the University of Charleston, West Virginia, where he pitched for Coach Tom Nozica and the Golden Eagles for two years. Justin then transferred to Missouri Western State University and played his final two years for Coach Charles “Buzz” Verduzco and the Griffons.

While at University of Charleston, Justin earned West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Honors his freshman year. During his time at Missouri Western, Justin was selected for Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association All-Conference Honors as a junior. Coach Parrish graduated with a Bachelor’s of  Science Degree in Sports Management with a Minor in Business.

Coach Parrish hails from Rainier, Oregon and attended Rainier High School where he lettered four years for Coach Rob Cameron.

Assistant Coach: John Fureno

Assistant Coach John Fureno will be in his second season as an assistant coach for the DiamondDawgs. Fureno has been part of the MVCC Baseball Coaching Staff since 2007. Mr. Fureno is currently employed as an elementary school teacher in the Fort Plain school district. He has coached football, basketball, softball, and baseball over the past 20 years. Coach Fureno was a three sport star at Mohawk High School excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. John spent several years playing semi-pro baseball for the St. Johnsville Saints as the team’s starting shortstop. He resides in Canajoharie, NY with his two sons Brady and Drew.