Kent Tekulve added a slash to his title with the newly established Washington Wild Things. Besides serving as the team's director of baseball operations, he'll be the pitching coach.
Tekulve, a former Pirates pitcher, also named Jeff Isom as field manager of the independent team based in North Franklin Township.
It's been about a month since the Wild Things' ownership group hired Tekulve to run the team, which will compete in the 12-member Frontier League. At that time, he said his top priority was finding an experienced coaching staff before the 42-game regular season starts in May.
He didn't have to look far. Isom managed the team last year when it was based in Canton, Ohio.
"Jeff just fit down the line," Tekulve said. "The bonus was he's done it before, he's done it with this team. The whole package is a solid package. I'm really glad to have him here with this organization."
Tekulve also hired batting coach Joe Charboneau, 46, who worked with Isom on the Canton Crocodiles. Charboneau, the American League Rookie of the Year in 1980 with the Cleveland Indians, has played or coached minor-league baseball for the past 25 years.
After conducting what he called a "narrow" search, Tekulve said it was obvious Isom and Charboneau were the right coaches to oversee instruction and player personnel decisions.
Unlike in the major leagues, the field manager in independent baseball selects and cuts players in addition to handling managerial responsibilities. Isom and Charboneau were essentially a package.
" "Joe and I have been very successful over the past few years," Isom said.
Under their direction, Canton finished 47-37 last season and made the playoffs, losing in the first round.
Isom, 29, a former left-handed pitcher at Purdue, has about seven years of minor-league playing experience. After he was drafted by the Pirates in 1993, he spent two seasons with affiliates in Ontario and Georgia.
The Pirates released him in 1994, and he played with a San Diego Padres affiliate before a stint in the Frontier League.
He began coaching as his playing career neared an end. In 2000, he was named the Crocodiles' manager, having honed his skills as a player-coach.
Isom said joining the Wild Things was an easy decision because fans in Washington seemed eager to embrace the team and the new stadium. He said the stadium was also a plus in recruiting top-notch talent.
With a coaching staff in place, the next step for the Wild Things will be assembling a team. Tekulve said about six players from last season likely will make the roster, but fans should expect changes throughout the season.
"We're going to start in the local area first, then expand to the whole nation. We're going to look everywhere," Isom said.
As pitching coach, Tekulve said he'll take on all the usual responsibilities, including working in the bullpen during games and traveling to some road games.
Tekulve, 54, was a pitcher with the Pirates from 1975-85, before finishing his 15-year major-league career with Cincinnati. He came out of retirement to join the Wild Things.
Two days after Isom was hired, he asked Tekulve to instruct his pitchers.
"Jeff said, 'You can help them. Would you help them?' " Tekulve said. "You can't pass up an opportunity to help. That's what I did my entire life, help guys get things done."
Frontier League: Coaching moves help stabilize Wild Things 
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