A former professional baseball player in the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs organizations, Dan Simonds, who is entering his second year at Miami, has brought extensive playing and coaching experience to the RedHawks' squad.
Simonds was an eighth-round draft pick in 1987 by the Orioles and was acquired by the Cubs as a free agent three years later. He earned all-Appalachian League and all-California League plaudits in 1987 and 1988.
Simonds had spent the previous four years prior to Miami in the San Diego Padres organization, managing the Class A Fort Wayne Wizards last year and working as an assistant coach for the Class A Clinton Lumber Kings the previous three years.