Brian Daly joins the Cheese Kings Coaching Staff as Manager for the 2022 season.

 

Menlo College coaching staff for the 2021-2022 season as Assistant/Pitching Coach for the Oaks. Daly is a Champaign, IL native and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program. After being a 3 sport(football, basketball, and baseball) starter in high school, he chose to pursue baseball only at the collegiate level despite having a number of scholarship offers for other sports. Daly began his collegiate career at Kankakee Community College for the 2001-2002 seasons where he respectively remains in the record books for: Innings Pitched, Wins, Appearances, Saves, and Complete Games. While at Kankakee Community College, Daly earned All-Region honors and was a unanimous selection to the Junior College All-American game where he pitched one inning and striking out all 3 batters faced while only throwing 11 pitches. After entertaining offers from the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers, Daly chose to continue his collegiate career after accepting a scholarship from Northwestern State University. He then transferred to Western Illinois University for his senior season as both a starter and closer for the Leathernecks. 

 

Immediately following his collegiate career, Daly signed his first professional contract with the Windy City Thunderbolts in 2004. He would go on to pitch professionally for the next 8 seasons for the: Windy City Thunderbolts, Edinburg Coyotes, Laredo Broncos, San Angelo Colts, Harlingen White Wings, Tucson Toros, and Lake County Fielders. During his professional playing career, Daly had the fortune of playing for a number of former Major League Players including Joe Charboneau(1981rookie of the year) Steve Trout, Papo Davilla, and Al Gallagher. In addition to that, he was also fortunate to play for 2 former Major League Baseball Managers. He played for former Cleveland Indians Manager Doc Edwards while with the San Angelo Colts. The last 3 seasons of Daly's career were all played under former Major League Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays Tim Johnson. Johnson also played 8 seasons at the Major League level for the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays after originally coming up through the Los Angeles Dodgers system. 

 

Johnson offered Daly his first coaching position in Professional Baseball as Pitching Coach for his staff after being named manager for the El Paso Diablos. "It was an offer I couldn't refuse as much as I wanted to continue to play. TJ had been a mentor to me during my playing days and has continued to be during my coaching career. There are no words to express how grateful I am for the opportunities he has given me both as a player and coach, as well as the help he continues to offer both as a mentor and friend." Coupled with that, Daly attributes any and all success he has  had to his parents Tim and Kay Daly(Champaign, IL) for the morals, work ethic, and support they have instilled in him, as well as the guidance and support he receives from his brother Eric(Port Orange, FL). 

 

After the Diablos got bought out by the now Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres, Daly decided to transition back to the college ranks as a coach. Since transitioning back to the collegiate level, Daly has had a plethora of success at every stop along way between college institutions and some of the most respected collegiate summer leagues in the country serving as both an Assistant Coach and Head Coach for both. Since 2013, Daly has seen over 50 of his players be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft and hopes to see that number continue to grow at Menlo College. "I'm very excited for the opportunity Coach Carrion and Menlo College have given me. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with these young men during their development at Menlo College. The ultimate goal is that it translates to wins on and off the field!"