Coaching Staff

Michael Bradshaw
Pitching Coach

Michael Bradshaw was officially announced as the Mavericks new pitching coach in January 2024. He comes to Omaha from the Chicago White Sox organization, where he served as the Rehab Pitching Coach since September 2022.

With the White Sox, Michael primarily focused on minor league pitching development, as well as helping major league pitchers including Liam Hendricks and Garrett Crochet with their rehab assignments.

Prior to his time with the White Sox, Michael spent 4 seasons as the Pitching Coach at BYU from 2019-2022. He helped Cougars to a WCC Title in 2019 and aided in the development of six pitchers who eventually signed professional baseball contracts. During his tenure, the Cougars pitching staff ranked in the top 25 in the country in Earned Run Average in 2019 (22nd) and 2022 (5th).

Before joining BYU, Michael served as the Assistant Director of Baseball Operations for the University of Arizona from 2016-2018, where he served in a variety of roles, including assistant to Pitching Coach Dave Lawn. Arizona twice reached NCAA regionals, and in 2016 the Wildcats made the College World Series Finals under head coach Jay Johnson.

Michael began his coaching career immediately following his college playing career at his alma mater, University of Nevada, Reno, where he pitched from 2012-14 and earned a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies. After graduating, he served as Director of Player Development in 2015, helping the Wolfpack to a Mountain West Conference title after going 41-15.

A native of Medford, Oregon and a 2010 graduate of North Medford High School, Michael began his collegiate career at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon from 2010-2012. Michael is set to marry his fiance, Nicole, who is a native of Papillion and a graduate of Creighton University, in January 2024. Together they have a German Shepherd named Scout.

Darin Ruf
Assistant Coach

In September 2024, the Omaha Baseball Team officially added nine-year MLB veteran Darin Ruf to the staff as an Assistant Coach. Darin's major league career spanned 2012-2023 with the Phillies, Giants, Mets, and Brewers, with a three-year stint in the KBO coming in the middle.

"We are thrilled to have Darin join our baseball family," remarked Head Coach Evan Porter. "Darin's incredible track record speaks for itself, but his character and work ethic are perhaps more impressive. I've been fortunate to know Darin for the past 20 years, his respect for the game and for the people around him are admirable. I couldn't be more excited to work with Darin, he is a tremendous addition to our program."

Ruf, an Omaha native and Creighton graduate, went on to have a successful major league career, primarily as a first baseman and outfielder, after being taken in the 20th round of the 2009 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Following three years in the minors, picking up an Eastern League (Double-A) MVP along the way, Darin earned his first trip to the show on September 14, 2012, and recorded his first career hit on September 25 with a home run against the Washington Nationals in his third ever at bat. He would go on to play 286 games across five seasons with the Phillies, posting a .747 OPS with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs.

From 2017-19, Ruf played three seasons in South Korea with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. One of the league's top sluggers, he slashed .313/.404/.564 and racked up 86 home runs and 350 RBIs in 404 games.

Darin would return to MLB in 2020, this time with the San Francisco Giants. He made an immediate impact with five home runs and an .887 OPS in the pandemic shortened season. The following year, Darin got his first taste of playoff baseball as the 107-win Giants stunned the league and made the postseason for the first time since 2016. Taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, San Francisco ultimately lost the series 3-2, but not before Ruf came through with the team's biggest hit yet in game five as he crushed a game-tying solo home run to center field off Julio Urias in the bottom of the sixth.

After posting a .900 OPS with 21 home runs and 61 RBIs in his first two years in the Bay Area, Darin would split his time over his final two seasons with the Giants, New York Mets, and finally the Milwaukee Brewers. At the age of 36, Ruf played his final career game on June 2, 2023, helping the Brewers to a 5-4 win over the Reds, but also suffering a deep knee laceration and non–displaced fracture of his patella after colliding with the tarp while chasing down a foul ball in the bottom of the third.

Overall, Ruf played in 581 games in his MLB career, finishing with 67 home runs, 205 RBIs, 198 runs scored, and a .756 OPS.

"I am thrilled to be joining Evan's staff in Omaha," stated Ruf. "I have been blessed with amazing coaches throughout my career and I am honored Evan has given me the opportunity to give back and work with these student athletes. I look forward to working with them on the field to become the best ball players they can be and off the field as they continue to develop into great people for the community of Omaha."

Darin is married to his wife Libby and they have two kids, Henry and Olive.

John Manganaro
Assistant Coach

John Manganaro officially joined the Omaha Baseball coaching staff in July 2023. He had previously spent 20 seasons at Wayne State College from 1990-2009, including 17 years as head coach.

"We are thrilled to have John Manganaro join our coaching staff," said Head Coach Evan Porter. "Coach Mags is a true student of the game and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our program."

In his time at Wayne State, John compiled an overall record of 506-309-1 (.620) and was 198-54 in Northern Sun Conference play (.785). He won six straight NSIC regular season titles (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). In 2009, Coach Manganaro tied the WSC school record for wins in a season, going 45-15 overall and 27-4 in the NSIC to capture a sixth straight regular season title. Under his leadership, the Wildcats reached the NCAA DII Tournament seven times and were the 12th winningest team in all of Division II during the 2000's with a 368-157-1 record (.701).

Manganaro has won numerous awards, including four times NSIC Coach of the Year and OWH Midlands Coach of the Year. Additionally, he helped build at least one All-American in six of his last seven seasons as head coach of WSC. For his decades of success with the Wildcats, Manganaro was inducted into the Wayne State athletics Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Northern Sun Conference Hall of Fame in 2016.

After leaving Wayne State in 2009, Manganaro moved to Omaha and went on to serve as director of the Ultimate Baseball Academy indoor complex until 2013. He has also served as an instructor/consultant as the Dean of Coaches for the Pacesetter, Gladiator and Bandit youth baseball organizations in Omaha since 2012.