Corvallis Names Andy Rojo New Head Coach. Knights also Name Former NWL Manager Dennis Rogers first Roving Instructor.

Former Northwest League Manager Named Club's Roving Instructor

Corvallis Knights general manager Brooke Knight announced on Tuesday that Andy Rojo of Riverside (Ca.) Community College will manage the 2006 Corvallis Knights. Knight also announced that Rojo will be assisted by Matt Dorey of Washington State University and that Riverside Community College head coach and former Northwest League manager Dennis Rogers had been named the club's first roving instructor.

"Andy Rojo and Matt Dorey are two of the brightest young coaching prospects in the college game," said Knight. "They are both very knowledgeable baseball people with tremendous upside. We really like their approach to development and to the game, and like their work ethic and new age thinking."

Rojo comes to the Knights highly recommended by Rogers and former Oregon State pitching great Andrew Checketts. As players, Rojo and Checketts were teammates at University of Florida in 1995. The following season, Andy transferred to Cal Poly Pomona where he finished his playing career. Rojo, 32, is currently the associate head coach at Riverside Community College.

"Andy is a brilliant, hard working and professional coach. He is detailed and aggressive in all that he does. Andy will be great for the Knights," said Checketts, assistant coach at University of California, Riverside of the Big West Conference.

Dorey is a volunteer assistant coach at Washington State University. Last summer, Dorey, 32, managed the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. Matt coached for Knights Baseball Club in 2004 and 2005 as the field manager of the Mt. Hood Cardinals, the organization's ex-affiliate team. Dorey played his college baseball at Portland State and as a senior served as the team's captain.

"Coach Dorey will be an asset to any team he coaches. He relates well to players and has a good feel for the game," said Donnie Marbut, head baseball coach at Washington State University.

Rogers has five years experience managing in the Northwest League (Short Season Class A affiliated Minor League) and 18 years head coaching experience at Riverside Community College, a leading JC baseball program in Southern California and Knights partner school since 2001.

Coach Rogers managed the Vancouver Canadians (Oakland A's affiliate) in 2004 and 2005 and skippered the Medford A's (Oakland affiliate) for three seasons in the early eighties ('82-84). Rogers guided Medford to the Northwest League Championship in 1983. Dennis has also managed in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization at both the Class A and AA level.

The Corvallis Knights first roving instructor, Rogers will act as an advisor to the coaching staff and also work with players at the start of the season.

"We are excited to have Dennis up for the start of the season. He's one of the most well respected coaches on the West Coast and an outstanding teacher," said team president Dan Segel. "I'm most excited for our young coaches and players. Any time with Dennis is going to make us all better."