FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
ROCHESTER, Mich. — Ty Rogers and Ryan Hilton will join Oakland as assistant coaches for the 2012-13 season, head coach John Musachio announced on Wednesday. Rogers will work with recruiting and infielders in addition to assisting with the offense, Hilton will work with the catchers and assist hitters.
“We are excited to welcome both Ty and Ryan to our baseball staff and into our baseball coaching family,” said Musachio. “They will both play a big role in continuing to build on our success as a baseball program.”
Rogers comes to Oakland after working as an assistant at Bradley. where he served as the team’s first-base coach in addition to assisting with hitters and outfield defense. Under his instruction, the Braves hit 46 home runs in 2012 with a .398 team slugging percentage, which both ranked top three in the Missouri Valley Conference. Prior to his time at Bradley, Rogers spent a year as an assistant coach at Parkland College in Champaign, Ill.
“Ty is a high-energy guy with a strong baseball background,” said Musachio. “He brings first-hand knowledge of how to play the game at the highest level and will be a great fit with our system.”
A former All-Big Ten player at Indiana, Rogers was part of the 2009 Hoosiers team that won the Big Ten Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Rogers hit .377 in his senior season and led the Big Ten with a .427 conference batting average. He still holds the IU record for most RBIs in a conference game, from his six-RBI effort against Michigan.
Following his collegiate career, Rogers played professional baseball with the Gateway Grizzlies and the Oakland County Cruisers of the Frontier League.
Hilton joins Oakland after four years as the varsity coach at Braden River High School in Bradenton, Fla. where he won back-to-back district and league titles.
“We are very fortunate to have someone with Ryan’s baseball experience on our staff,” said Musachio. “He is a seasoned baseball man with a history of success as a coach.”
Hilton spent four years as the varsity pitching coach at Troy High School from 2002-05. He also gained coaching experience at Canisius and D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y.
Hilton played hist collegiate baseball at Canisius, where he won the 1994 MAC championship. He was also an NJCAA All Star during his two years at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich.
