The Nanaimo NightOwls have their inaugural head coach, Greg Frady, who will lead the team when they make their WCL debut in 2021. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BENCH BOSS

Nanaimo NightOwls unveil first head coach in franchise history

Aug 26, 2020 | 4:55 PM

NANAIMO — The city’s newest sports team have their man.

Greg Frady was introduced to fans and stakeholders as the Nanaimo NightOwls’ first head coach via an online conference on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Originally from Georgia, Frady and his family will come to Nanaimo when the team debuts in the West Coast League in the summer of 2021.

“It’s an opportunity that I just couldn’t pass by. Very seldom in life do you get to be the first of anything and it’s something I’ve always enjoyed if I was in a position of having the first of something,” Frady said.

Frady is no stranger to British Columbia, having coached at a tournament in Prince George in 2009, opposite NightOwls general manager Jim Swanson.

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He also has an extensive collegiate and international head coaching career with over 650 wins.

Ahead of the team’s inaugural season, Frady will work his connections in college baseball to recruit an on-field product he believes Nanaimo will be proud of.

“Sometimes people think the product is just about the players, but it’s about the organization in my opinion. You can have the best coach but he’s not effective if he doesn’t have the best organization.”

Frady signed a five year contract with the team. He said the challenge now is to build a program from the ground up and bring the right players to Nanaimo.

“Everybody is excited for the first month of the season and then everybody’s ready to go home for the second month of the season. Finding those guys who are feel-guys that want to be out there every day, those are important things for me.”

Through his contract, Frady has sponsored two season tickets which will form the base for a kids program in partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation, developing baseball in the region.

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