The 47-year-old American Troy Williams is leaving the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe to become head coach of German Baseball-Bundesliga rival Stuttgart Reds. The pitching coach of the German national team had been coaching the youth teams of the Heidekoepfe last season after Mike Hartley returned to Heidenheim last winter. Stuttgart had lost their player-coach Matti Emery recently, who will stay in Canada to complete his exams. Williams is the pitching coach of the German national team since 2004.
The Heidekoepfe meanwhile confirmed that Hartley returns as skipper for the 2014 season. Key players Simon Guehring, James McOwen, Jay Pecci and Robert Gruber all come back as well. They also hope for Luke Sommer, who is studying in the United States, to play a second season in Germany even if he will arrive mid-year. Additionally general manager Klaus Eckle already has an agreement in place with an American pitcher. More new players are expected to come.