Summer Dawgs name Graham new WMBL coach

Okotoks, Alta. _ The Okotoks Dawgs have decided on their coaching staff for the 2016 season. Taking over as head coach is former Oregon State star and Major League outfielder, Tyler Graham. 

Serving as infield and assistant coach will be another OSU standout, Andy Peterson. The pitching coach will be Jesse English. Returning to the Dawgs to round out the coaching staff as bench coach will be David Robb.

Graham is a native of Great Falls, Mont. and currently serves as an undergraduate assistant coach at Oregon State University, where he lettered from 2003-2006. Graham helped the Beavers to a National Championship during his senior year and was also a key member of an OSU team that won back to back Pac 10 titles in 2005 and 2006. Graham was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and enjoyed a nine year pro career making his debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012. Graham finished his professional career with 267 stolen bases and a .272 average with 22 home runs and 218 runs batted in.

assistant coach Peterson, is a native or Anaheim, Calif. and is another alumni of Pac 12 powerhouse Oregon State. Peterson was a middle infielder on a Beavers team that earned a trip to Omaha in 2013 for the NCAA, Division 1, College World Series. He enjoyed a highlight game going 3-for-4 with three runs scored in leading OSU to an 11-4 win over Louisville. Following his college career, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the MLB Draft and played two seasons in the Mariners minor league system.

English hails from Oceanside, Calif. and was drafted out of high school in the sixth round of the 2007 draft as a left handed pitcher by the San Francisco Giants. English was a teammate of Graham’s in the Giants organization and played six years of pro ball. He made his Major League debut on April 5, 2010 with the Washington Nationals.

Rounding out the 2016 staff is long-time Dawgs mentor, Robb. He played at San Matteo JC and Cal-State Fullerton. He later coached in the Oakland A’s organization. In addition, Robb played and coached professionally in Italy and has worked with both the Italian and Canadian national teams. He has served as head coach of the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League and as head coach of three Dawgs summer collegiate clubs that went on to win WMBL Championships.