Page 16 - Anglers-Yearbook-2022

CHATHAM ANGLERS IN THE DUGOUT 2022

TOM HOLLIDAY MANAGER
Tom Holliday returns for his fourth season as the Anglers skipper, aiming to return Chatham to the successes achieved in his first season
(Cape League championship series) and second season (Eastern Division co-champions). Holliday played college ball at Yavapai
College and the University of Miami. His distinguished coaching career began in 1977 as an Arizona State assistant coach. Tom then
went to Oklahoma State (OSU) for the next 26 years (19 years as an assistant, 7 years as head coach). During Holliday’s OSU tenure
the team made 8 trips to the College World Series (CWS), finishing 2nd three times. Holliday then became the University of Texas
(UT) pitching coach, helping lead UT to two CWS appearances, including winning the 2005 title. Holliday then spent eight seasons,
with one CWS appearance, as a North Carolina State assistant coach, before finishing his college coaching career as an assistant
coach at Auburn for one season. Tom and wife Kathy have two sons, Josh and Matt. Josh is the head coach at OSU, where Matt now
also coaches after finishing his illustrious MLB career that included 7 All-Star appearances and a 2011 World Series Championship.
Holliday is excited to help the Anglers have a summer of enjoyment and improvement. “If they’re winning, the time, it’ll fly” Holliday
said. “If they’re getting better and winning, they’re going to have a great experience.”

DENNIS COOK PITCHING COACH
Dennis Cook returns for his fourth year as the Anglers pitching coach. Dennis played two seasons at Angelina College before
transferring to the University of Texas where he excelled as a pitcher and outfielder. Cook had a 15-year major league career with
nine teams, finishing with a 3.91 ERA and 64 wins. He was a starting pitcher early in his career before moving to the bullpen later in
his career. Dennis played on two World Series championship teams (1997 Marlins, 2002 Angels) and got the win in game three of the
1997 series. Cook was an excellent hitting pitcher, batting .264 over his MLB career, which included several pinch-hit appearances.
After retiring, Dennis coached a season at UT, working with Tom Holliday to help lead UT to a 2nd place finish in the 2004 CWS. In
recent years Cook has promoted baseball internationally, coaching the Swedish and Italian National Baseball Teams. Cook is excited
to help the pitchers prepare to pitch at a higher level. “I want to help them understand what to expect when they’re drafted into
pro ball, prepare them for the pro ball level, help them understand how to use their stuff a little bit better, and help them with their
routine.”

RANDY WHISLER ASSISTANT COACH
Randy (Whis) Whisler returns for a fourth year on the Anglers staff. Whis played for Tom Holliday at Oklahoma State (OSU), helping
them reach the CWS all four seasons by batting over .300. Whis was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, playing two minor league seasons
before retiring to begin his coaching career at OSU. After two seasons at OSU Whis moved into professional coaching, serving as
the hitting coach for three minor league franchises (Gastonia, Tulsa, and Las Vegas) before becoming a minor league head coach
(Rookie League Arizona Padres, 3 seasons; Eugene Emeralds, 1 season). Whis then became the Florida Marlins minor league infield
coordinator, where he earned a 2003 World Series ring before moving on to coach first base with the Cincinnati Reds for two seasons.
Whis then returned to his Oklahoma roots and now coaches at Tulsa’s Victory Christian School. Whis says “it’s exciting to work with
high caliber baseball players, I’m ready to return to Chatham, work hard, show passion, and help make these kids better.”

RUSTY GREER ASSISTANT COACH
Rusty will be joining the Anglers coaching staff on July 1st, his first season coaching Cape League baseball. His primarily responsibility
will be to work with the Angler hitters, which makes sense since he retired after nine major league seasons, all with the Texas
Rangers, with a .305 lifetime batting average. Rusty was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2007 and currently resides
in Colleyville, Texas.

TRAVIS SPRUIELL ASSISTANT COACH
Travis will be joining the Anglers coaching staff for his inaugural season this summer. Travis played his college ball at New Mexico
Highlands. After his college eligibility ended Travis remained at New Mexico Highlands as a volunteer graduate assistant for a few
years before moving on to a similar volunteer assistant coach position at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

14 2022 CHATHAM ANGLERS YEARBOOK