Andy Haines Named Manager of New Orleans Zephyrs

Andy Haines

Andy Haines was introduced as the 14th manager in New Orleans Zephyrs history at a recent "Evening with the Zephyrs" reception.

Haines will be joined on the bench in 2014 by pitching coach Charlie Corbell, hitting coach Damon Minor and athletic trainer Chris Olson, all returning from previous seasons.

Entering his seventh season in the Miami Marlins organization, and sixth as manager, Haines comes to New Orleans after two years managing the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League, where his 2012 team came within one victory of the league championship. Under his tutelage, the Greensboro Grasshoppers claimed the 2011 South Atlantic League title, his second season with the club.

Haines started in the Marlins system as hitting coach of the Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2008, before taking the reigns of Jamestown of the New York-Penn League the following year. Including his managerial debut with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League in 2007, where he also skippered his team to a league crown, Haines has compiled a 389-335 record in six seasons as a manager.

Haines becomes the second Eastern Illinois University alum to take the helm of one of New Orleans' professional sports teams, joining Saints head coach Sean Payton. Following his playing career at EIU, Haines spent three years as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State University, and also had coaching stints at Olney Central College and with the Northern League's Gary Railcats and the Frontier League's Dubois County Dragons.

Corbell returns to New Orleans for a fourth consecutive season, and fifth season overall, having also served in the same capacity in 2005. Corbell helped the 2011 Zephyrs set a franchise record with 13 shutouts, and guided the staff to the Pacific Coast League's best ERA in both 2012 and 2013. He is entering his 13th season as a minor league pitching coach, and his eighth year in the Marlins organization, after two-year stints with Jamestown (2007-08) and Greensboro (2009-10). Originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round in 1983, Corbell went 54-42 with a 3.67 ERA in 141 career minor league appearances (133 starts) in the Giants and Oakland Athletics systems.

Minor also returns to New Orleans for a fourth season. After making his professional coaching debut in 2011, Minor presided over a Zephyrs offense that set a franchise record by hitting 153 home runs in 2012. Minor played in 136 games over parts of four seasons with the San Francisco Giants, and established career highs in 2002 by playing in 83 games and hitting 10 home runs, helping the Giants to the National League pennant. Following his retirement in 2006, Minor returned to his alma mater at the University of Oklahoma as a hitting instructor.

Olson is entering his third season in the Marlins organization, and second with the Zephyrs. He debuted with Greensboro in 2012, where he handled the trainer's duties for the Northern Division All-Stars in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Prior to joining the Marlins, Olson served as the athletic trainer for the Texas Rangers' Dominican Summer League affiliate. Olson earned his Master of Science in athletic training from Florida International University.

The New Orleans Zephyrs open the 2014 season Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Ticket packages are on sale now by calling the Zephyrs at (504) 734-5155.