January 22, 2024

Official Toronto Maple Leafs News Release

TORONTO, Ont. – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the re-hiring of Jeff Lounsbury as the club's general manager.

The Niagara Falls native returns for his second season as the GM after spending many seasons within the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) coaching and GM ranks.

Before joining the Maple Leafs, he spent four seasons as the general manager of the Hamilton Cardinals, leading the team to several playoff milestones. The former Brock University head coach is one of the winningest coaches in Canadian university baseball and was a three-time Ontario Coach of the Year before retiring after 20 years at Brock with over 500 OUA victories.

Lounsbury led Brock to two CIBA national championships (1998, 1999) and four OUA championships (2002, 2004, 2010, 2014), In 2018, Lounsbury came out of OUA retirement and joined the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks staff as an assistant coach and was also part of two OUA championship teams ( 2018, 2019 ).

Lounsbury was inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame in January 2016.

“I am honoured to return for another season at Christie Pits. Last season, was an amazing experience working with Rob Butler and the players. I am excited to be asked to play a part in this new chapter of Toronto Maple Leaf baseball,” said Lounsbury. “I respected Jack and this franchise so much over my years in the IBL and after meeting and speaking with this new ownership group I cannot wait to see how they grow this iconic and historic franchise. I am here to help support Rob, the club's new owners, a passionate fan base, volunteers, and dedicated core of veteran players.”

“It is crucial to preserve the hardwork and dedication that others before me have done to usher in a new era of Maple Leafs baseball at the Pits.”