Dinelle takes over as Barnstormers bench boss

As the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers prepare for their third season, and their first in the newly-formed Canadian Baseball League, they have put together their coaching staff with some familiar faces.

Co-owner Dom Dinelle will be the team’s on-field manager, while fellow co-owner Harry Muir will serve as pitching coach. Along with being co-owners of the Barnstormers franchise, Dinelle is the team’s CEO and president, while Muir is the team’s general manager.

Dinelle will be the team’s third manager. Former major league baseball player Dan Norman was the team’s inaugural coach in 2024. Gil Rondon, who was the team’s pitching coach in 2024, took over manager duties in 2025 but left the team late in the season and was replaced by Muir.

Prior to coming to Chatham-Kent, Dinelle spent 12 years in professional baseball as a player, coach and scout with the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins.

***

Can an owner be involved as a coach or general manager? It’s not as rare as you might believe.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been the team’s general manager since 1989, the year he bought the team. Other NFL owners who also coached include Al Davis (Oakland Raiders), Paul Brown (Cleveland Browns) and George Halas (Chicago Bears).

In professional baseball, Connie Mack was the manager and owner of the Philadelphia Athletics.

In hockey, former Chatham minor baseball player Wayne Gretzky was a minority owner of the Arizona Coyotes and the team’s coach from 2005 to 2009.

Arden Eddie, who grew up in Wallaceburg, was the owner/player/coach of the Intercounty Baseball League’s London Majors. He played from 1967-1999, and owned the team from 1977-2004. Eddie is a member of the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame.