Cody Andreychuk emphasized an aggressive, fast-paced style of baseball should be a popular fit with NightOwls fans. (submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

local leader

Newly hired Nanaimo NightOwls coach excited to lead hometown team

Oct 19, 2024 | 9:53 AM

NANAIMO — Armed with experience as a high-level player and coach, the new man in charge of the Nanaimo NightOwls dugout can’t wait to get started.

Cody Andreychuk, 32, born and raised in Nanaimo, is the second head coach in NightOwls franchise history after Greg Frady recently stepped down.

Andreychuk, who played collegiately VIU and in the United States, wants to build on fond memories he forged growing up playing baseball in Nanaimo.

“Those are some of the best memories in my life and I want to instill that in the youth that come out and watch. Hopefully we can run some camps this summer and get the youth involved with the Nanaimo NightOwls on even a larger scale.”

Andreychuk, head coach of the University of Pikeville Bears men’s baseball program, guided the Kentucky based school to a 30-19 record last season.

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He’s entering his fourth season at the helm at UPike.

A graduate of Nanaimo’s Dover Bay Secondary School and former Nanaimo Pirate of the BC Premier Baseball League, Andreychuk obtained a degree in sports management and a Masters in business administration.

He’s a strong believer in an aggressive style of ball.

“Where I coach now we run kind of a run-and-gun system, it’s very fast-paced, we’re going to have a lot of speed. Those things contributed to what we’ve done here in getting our program turned around, we’re going to put a lot of pressure on the defence.”

Aside from setting lineups and running the bench, Andreychuk will be heavily involved in off-season recruiting for the 2025 version of the NightOwls.

Having several collegiate coaching roles on his resume, including in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, Andreychuk believes his experience and contacts will give the NightOwls an edge.

“Being down in the states and having that experience of recruiting in the southeast, which is arguably in my opinion probably the best baseball in the country — that’s going to be a good skill-set and the connections I have through the Cape Cod and the various coaches I’ve met.”

Cody Andreychuk’s next chapter in his coaching journey takes him back to the Harbour City for summer ball duty with the NightOwls. (submitted photo)

NightOwls managing partner Jim Swanson said Andreychuk “ticked all of the boxes” in what the team was looking for in its next head coach.

“He pretty much told me that the only summer coaching job he would even consider is Nanaimo. He just loves the stadium and loves being back home,” Swanson said.

Andreychuk’s ability to attract talented, high character players meshes will with the organization’s goals, Swanson noted.

“That’s a tremendous benefit for him being in the role,” Swanson told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Even before he was announced, the ink was barely dry on his contract, he was already finding players that we are exceptionally excited about announcing as part of our team.”

Swanson hopes Andreychuk, who has a three-year contract to guide the NightOwls, will continue bringing stability to their coaching staff.

“I would like Cody to be our coach for a long period of time,” Swanson said. “I would be a terrible owner of a McDonald’s or a Tim Hortons where staff turns over every couple of weeks. I like stability, I love the fact obviously that Cody is from Nanaimo.”

Swanson said news should be forthcoming shortly on the rest of the NightOwls coaching staff.

The Nanaimo NightOwls play a 54-game regular season between late May and early August in the 17-team WCL, featuring teams in B.C., Alberta, as well as Washington and Oregon states.

Nanaimo is entering its fourth year in the league.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes