The Newton Rebels are pleased to announce Jess Tracy as Head Coach for the 2024 season. In searching for a new coach, Rebels management emphasized finding an experienced, successful coach, with strong ties to both the local community and the Newton Rebels organization. Coach Tracy checks all of those boxes.
Tracy previously served as Associate Head Coach of the Rebels in 2010 and 2011, and also served as an assistant coach during the Rebels successful 4-2 run in the 2015 NBC World Series.
Coach Tracy has strong ties to the local community. After playing two seasons at North Idaho College, he transferred to Newman University, before finishing his collegiate playing career at Tabor College, where he was named First Team All-KCAC his senior season in 2003.
Immediately after finishing his playing career, Coach Tracy served as hitting coach at Tabor College in 2004-2005. In 2006 he was hired as an assistant coach at Clearwater High School, and then promoted to head coach in 2010, a position he still holds today. During his time at Clearwater High School, his teams have qualified for three KSHSAA State Tournaments, most recently in 2021, and he has sent over 20 players on to the collegiate ranks.
As the Newton Rebels enter their 24th season in Newton, there will be a mixture of new, old, and returning faces. General Manager Mark Carvalho, now head baseball coach at Southwestern College returns for his seventh season. Chris Pate, who served as General Manager and coach in various capacities from 2008-2016, returns for his second stint with the team, this time as Director of Baseball Operations. Kevin Pouch, who has served as Director of Operations since 2009, is also returning to the team in a full-time capacity.
The Rebels have a proud 24 year tradition in Newton, and are now the fourth longest continually operating summer collegiate team in the state of Kansas. This proud tradition includes ten NBC World Series bids and four league titles. Management looks to immediately build a team that will be a contender for Jayhawk League titles and NBC World Series bids on a yearly basis.
