Staff

Robbie and Nellie Nichols

Owners

Phone607-734-2690

Robbie and Nellie Nichols are the owners of the Elmira Pioneers.The Nichols were proud partners of the Pioneers since 2012 and took sole ownership of the team in late 2017. Since taking over ownership the Pioneers have gone from averaging one hundred fans a game to becoming one of the top three teams in the United States Collegiate Baseball Leagues as far as attendance is concerned.

Marc Witt

General Manager

Phone607-734-2690

EmailMWitt.canusa@gmail.com

Marc Witt was named the general manager of the Pioneers. Witt is from Erie, PA and is a former employee of the Elmira Jackals, who also had stints in the AHL (American Hockey League), along with three years in the NHL (National Hockey League) with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as Vice President of the Binghamton Devils and Senators for 3 seasons before starting at CAN-USA Sports.

Kane Cowper

Operations Manager

Kane is originally from Michigan and the father of two boys, Marshall and Miller with his high school sweetheart. Kane has over 10 years of experience in the world of facility management. He was solely responsible for all facility needs at the First Arena in Elmira New York from 2018-2021. Kane has been with the Elmira Pioneers since 2018 and helps keep Dunn Field gorgeous & historic!

Stitches

Mascot

Born: 1888 - Elmira New York. Favorite Food: Nellie's Nachos. Best Friend: Dewey the Batavia Muckdog. Favorite Song: "Take me out to the Ball Game"

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Chris P. Bacon

In Game Host

Chris P. Bacon aka Bacon is a local guy that grew up in Elmira Heights, New York. He started his radio roots in Chemung County, New York while in high school, that’s when Bacon finally figured out what he wanted to do. After ten years in the Elmira/Corning Market, he was offered a chance to work in Miami-Fort Lauderdale. Bacon in the mid 1990's, he moved back to the area and went to work for an Elmira based broadcast company spending the next 23 years as an On-Air Mornings Jock playing Country, as well as, a Program Director, Music Director and a Production Director.
Over the past 3 years, Bacon has been heard on 99.5 WOKN (Country), and WLVY (Hot AC), as the most requested On-Air Personality at LIVE client Broadcasts and Station Promotional Events. Today, you will find him waking you up in the morning on 94.3 WLVY.

Andrew Drum

Head Coach

Coach Drum is from Elmira New York and played at Southside High School (2006 STAC Champions). He was a 2006 STAC West all-star and played college ball at Corning Community College and set a career Triples Record, single Season Triples Record, & Led the team in Stolen Bases (2009). He finished his college career at SUNY Oneonta. He has over 15 years' experience as a Hitting Instructor for 15. Coached Upstate Chill Travel Baseball Team (2012-2015), the 2015 Dunn Field Classic Champions, Williamson High School JV (2015), Williamson High School Varsity (16-17). At Williamson his teams were back-to-back district qualifiers (finished 3rd in district 4, 2017). He has had 6 Players named all NTL, 6 Players named All Region Team. Drum made his PGCBL debut with the Elmira Pioneers in 2017 as a hitting coach and was promoted to Asst. Head Coach in 2018 before taking over as the head coach in 2021. In his first season as full time head coach he led the Pioneers to a wild card spot in the PGCBL playoffs.

Brian Joe "BJ"

Assistant Coach

Coach Joe is a father of two and a lifelong Elmiran. Baseball is his first love and began playing at age 3 and continued all the way through college at SUNY Corning & finishing with Ithaca College. Brian is entering his 2nd season with the Pioneers coaching staff.

Eugene Barber

Assistant Coach

Eugene Barber has been an integral part of both baseball, and strength & conditioning in the southern tier for the past decade. Serving as part of the very successful Thomas A Edison baseball program at the developmental level for four years as the head coach. Eugene will be returning for his third year as an assistant coach for the Elmira Pioneers, helping guide the pioneers to multiple playoff appearances throughout his time with the club. With a background in baseball, he has also sought out further education in health, and fitness completing multiple fitness certifications from sports strength and conditioning to nutrition. Eugene is looking to continue to add value both on and off the field, to help players continue to develop, and succeed at the collegiate level.

Alex Tchiprout

Broadcaster

Alex Tchiprout is from Fairfax, VA, and is currently a junior sports media major at Ithaca College. While at Ithaca College, he works as a play-by-play broadcaster for the VIC and WICB Radio sports departments. He also just completed his first season as a researcher for the ICTV sports show Hold That Thought.

Nate Kruckow "Nasty Nate"

Team Scorekeeper

Nathan Kruckow is from Erin, N.Y. and is heading into his senior year at Alfred State College in the Sport Management program. While at college he works on the gameday operations staff, recording and spotting live stats for the baseball, softball, both basketball, football and both soccer teams. Occasionally does other things for the staff as well, including scoreboard operating and setting things up. Nate was the 2022 Elmira Pioneers official scorekeeper as well.

Grace DiCarlo

Intern

Grace DiCarlo is from Edison, NJ and is currently studying at the University of Tampa. She is a sport management major with a pre-law track, planning to go to law school once she graduates from undergraduate. While at Edison High School she was the baseball team’s manager who kept stats and did the scoreboard. In college now she works as a student-athlete tutor and helps with 50/50 raffle sales during the New York Yankee Spring Training games.

Brian Coughlan

Intern

Brian Coughlan is from Massapequa Park, New York and will be graduating from SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and Business Economics. During the past two summers he has worked various positions at the Sun Valley Conference. Prior to that he was working as an event manager for the St. Rose Catholic Youth Organization. In this role he oversaw events for children k-12 in Basketball and Volleyball.

Jared Daghita

Intern

Ty Stickler

Intern