The Wilson Tobs announced today that Bruce Johnson has accepted a full time coaching position at Western Carolina University and his new role will not allow him to return to the Tobs as head coach for the 2012 season.  The team also announced that associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Jason Immekus has been named head coach.

Immekus is returning for his second season with the Tobs as he was an assistant coach last summer working primarily with the pitching staff.  He will now administer the Tobs recruiting during the rest of the offseason and will oversee all on-field activities during the summer.  Immekus currently is an assistant baseball coach for the Division II Missouri Southern University located in Joplin, Missouri.  Immekus has several years of summer collegiate baseball coaching experience in addition to his time with the Tobs.  He was the pitching coach for the CPL’s New Bern River Rats for two seasons then held the same position with the Northwoods League’s Madison Mallard for two summers.

“I am extremely excited to be the head coach for the Tobs” said Immekus.  “I would like to thank Tobs president Greg Suire for the opportunity.  I truly enjoyed my time in Wilson last summer and am looking forward to returning in this new role.  I wish the season started tomorrow.”

“I am very happy for both Bruce and Jason as they take on new, challenging roles in their respective careers” said Tobs general manager James Wolfe.  “I think that coach Immekus is more than capable of leading a CPL team and I have no doubt that he will put together a team of great players and quality young men this summer in Wilson.”

“Jason’s leadership and communication skills played a pivotal role in the development our pitching staff last season,” Tobs President Greg Suire said. “From day one, Jason’s commitment to the Tobs organization was clearly evident and I am fully confident that his leadership will produce a successful 2012 campaign.”

The Wilson Tobs are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league.  The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 16th season in 2012, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 46 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at http://www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).

James Wolfe

(252) 291-8627