Knights Announce Hiring of New Pitching Coach.

Ex-Pro Pitcher Ryan Wing to Start Coaching Career with Corvallis

Corvallis Knights GM/Head Coach Brooke Knight announced the hiring of pitching coach Ryan Wing (pictured) of Carlsbad, California this past week.

Wing replaces Ryan Heil of Riverside CC as the team's pitching coach for the summer 2010. Heil did an excellent job managing last season's top West Coast League pitching staff (WCL single-season record 2.22 ERA) and further developing pitchers like Ben Guidos (7-0, 1.27) of University of Washington and Steve Kalush (4-2, 1.87) of Santa Clara.

"Coach Wing comes highly recommended. We have been very impressed with our discussions with Ryan. He's going to add great value to our organization and most importantly our kids are going to benefit greatly from his approach and his wealth of knowledge he accumulated in professional baseball," said Knights' skipper Brooke Knight.

Wing is currently working with pitchers at Riverside Community College while taking classes at RCC. Wing is pursuing a Master's Degree in Special Education.

Ryan pitched 9 years in professional baseball retiring after last season (and a third arm surgery). After 8 years in the minor leagues, he spent his final pro season with the Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Pacific League of Nippon Pro Baseball (the Japanese Major Leagues).

Wing starred at Riverside Community College and pitched for the Tigers' 2001 State championship team that featured ex-Knights shortstop Eddie Cornejo, catcher Chris Stewart and pitcher Mike Swindell.

Following the 2001 spring season, Wing was selected in the 2nd round of the June MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox.

The hard-throwing southpaw was nurtured at RCC by former Knights' pitching coach and current University of Oregon pitching coach Andrew Checketts. Ryan credits much of his accelerated development as a collegian (and transition from high school outfielder to pitcher) to Checketts.

"Ryan Wing is an exceptional person. His decision to coach is exciting. He'll be an excellent teacher and role model, and with his experiences, work ethic, communication skills, intellect and pitching expertise, he's going to make an immediate impact. We're thrilled for the Knights and I'm confident he will do an extraordinary job developing pitchers," said ex-OSU Beavers star pitcher and Ducks' pitching coach Andrew Checketts.

Like Checketts, Wing will start his college coaching career with the Knights. Andrew was a player/coach in 2000 for the then semi-pro Aloha Knights.

As a professional, Ryan pitched in the White Sox, Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics organizations. He was a key member (2-1, 2.33, 47 relief appearances) of the AAA Sacramento River Cats team that won the Pacific Coast League and AAA championship game in 2008.

Wing isn't the Knights first rookie coach hoping to launch a career after time in pro baseball. Other ex-pros that got their start with the Knights are Checketts, Geoff Loomis (head coach at Pacific Lutheran University), Matt Kosderka (head coach at Wilsonville High School) and Trent Baysinger.

Baysinger, who pitched four years in the minor leagues, was the pitching coach of the 2007 Corvallis Knights and was highly successful working with young pitchers. He was instrumental in the development of 2009 Big West Pitcher of the Year and UC Irvine ace Daniel Bibona.

Ryan Wing and his wife Kandyce have a son Kaleb and a daughter Dylan and currently reside in Carlsbad, California.

Corvallis Knights Pitching Coaches
2009 - Ryan Heil (*assistant coach, RCC)
2008 - Jason Hawkins (*head coach, Occidental College)
2007 - Trent Baysinger
2006 - Colby Summer
2005 - Colby Summer
2004 - Dale Stebbins (*volunteer assistant, University of Portland)
2003 - Dale Stebbins (*volunteer assistant, University of Portland)
2002 - Matt Kosderka (*head coach, Wilsonville High School)
2001 - Mick Ellett (*pitching coach, Clackamas CC)
2000 - Andrew Checketts (*pitching coach, University of Oregon)

* current position