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Oilmen Announce Hiring of Mike Coles as Assistant Coach

06/11/2013 2:56 PM -

The Northwest Indiana Oilmen are excited to announce the hiring of former minor league outfielder Mike Coles as their newest assistant coach. Coles is a former local product who starred at Hammond High School. He has a host of baseball knowledge he can impart onto the Oilmen after his time at Parkland College and Purdue University.

Coles has experienced success on the diamond throughout his career. As a junior at Purdue, he batted over .300 while leading the team in hits, doubles, runs and stolen bases. During his time at Hammond High School, Coles was an all-conference performer all three years while hitting over .400 each year. He helped contribute to his team’s sectional championship in 1999. Coles gives head coach Justin Huisman another voice that can share their experiences on what it takes to become a professional baseball player. Coles is currently an assistant coach for local 2A powerhouse Bishop Noll, which won the sectional championship in the confines of Oil City Stadium this season.

In 2001, Coles was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 34th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.  He has spent eight seasons playing in the professional ranks, most recently appearing in five games this season with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.  He broke into professional baseball in 2006 with the Gary SouthShore RailCats and has seen time with the Windy City Thunderbolts, Joliet JackHammers, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Winnipeg Goldeyes. He has compiled a .301 batting average in 622 career games, all in independent baseball.

Coles will begin his work with the Oilmen on Tuesday, June 11, when Northwest Indiana takes on the Rockford Foresters. The game is also a Tasty Tuesday promotion game. Fans at the ball game can buy $2 hot dogs and Bulldog Brewing Companies Standard Diamonds Ale for 50 cents.

The Oilmen are made up of some of the top collegiate baseball players from around the country as well as from the Midwest and from local communities. The players have an opportunity to get a taste of professional-level, wood bat baseball before advancing to their own professional careers in the minor leagues. Follow the Oilmen on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or visit www.nwioilmen.com to stay up to date on all the latest Oilmen news.