Brooks Carey

Carey joins the Jackals for his second managerial job and his 12th season in professional baseball. In five seasons as the CornBelters’ skipper, Carey posted a 248-230 record, but his biggest success came in 2015. After leading the club to its first ever winning season in 2014, Carey set his sights higher and took the CornBelters to their first playoff berth as champions of the West Division. The award-winning season marked a stunning turnaround, as Carey took Normal from eighth place in 2014 to second place in 2015.

Prior to Normal, Carey’s coaching history began with championship roots in the Can-Am League. In 2008, Carey got his first taste of coaching pro ball when Hal Lanier, the 1986 National League Manager of the Year for the Houston Astros, asked him to be the pitching coach for the Sussex Skyhawks. Carey’s first season turned out to be a rousing success, as he and Lanier guided the Skyhawks to the Can-Am League championship.

Carey coached with Lanier over his first four seasons in professional baseball. He served again as the Skyhawks’ pitching coach in 2009 before moving with Lanier to Normal and serving as the CornBelters’ pitching coach from 2010-11. Carey then left Normal and Lanier in 2012 to become the pitching coach for the Frontier League’s Evansville Otters. He has also coached in the Arizona Winter League for 11 seasons.

“On behalf of the entire organization, we are very excited to make this announcement today,” said Jackals General Manager Joe Redmon. “Brooks is coming to us with a fantastic resume and we are confident he will be a great addition to our team and community.”

By joining the Can-Am League managing fraternity, Carey will be reunited with Lanier, who has been the manager of the Ottawa Champions since their inception in 2015. Lanier helped guide Ottawa to the league title in 2016, his first championship since the one he and Carey won with Sussex.

“I am excited about getting back to where my professional coaching career began back in 2008, right here in the Can-Am League,” said Carey. “My goal for 2018 is simple: Continue the winning tradition and ultimately bring a championship to the organization and fans of the Jackals.”

Before joining Lanier in Sussex, Carey enjoyed a successful run as a Florida high school coach at his alma mater, Key West High School. In 1998, Carey helped guide his team to the state championship with the help of future San Diego Padres shortstop Khalil Greene.

As a player, Carey pitched for four years at Florida State University before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round of the 1978 draft. After four seasons in the Orioles’ minor league system, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1982 and spent his final season in pro ball with their Triple-A club, the Indianapolis Indians. Over five seasons in the minor leagues, Carey posted a 3.75 ERA, including two seasons at Triple-A.

“My family and I would like to thank [the Jackals’ owners] the Dorso family, Greg Lockard and Joe Redmon for the tremendous honor of being named the new field manager of the New Jersey Jackals,” said Carey. “I am very aware of the great reputation that the organization has worked hard for over the years and will give my all to maintain and uphold that reputation.”