The Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) have made a major personnel announcement, appointing Andy Milovich to the position of President and General Manager. The announcement was made by RoughRiders General Partner & CEO Chuck Greenberg.
Milovich has spent the past 5 ½ years as the top executive for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High A; Carolina League), most recently in the role of Team President. The Pelicans are a sister team of the RoughRiders in Greenberg’s family of Minor League Baseball franchises (Greenberg Sports Group).
Current RoughRiders Executive Vice President/General Manager Jason Dambach will continue to serve in a senior management role with the organization as Executive Vice President.
“Since our ownership group began operating the RoughRiders in August 2014, we have re-invented our ballpark experience, created exciting new ways to connect with our fans and raised the bar in all areas of our business,” said Greenberg. “Today’s announcement of Andy Milovich taking over as our new President and General Manager is the next step in the RoughRiders reaching new heights at the ballpark, in our community and within the baseball industry.”
“Andy has a proven track record of building a positive organizational culture, fostering creativity and collaboration across all departments, and developing strong connections between his teams and their communities,” Greenberg added. “His day-to-day leadership, along with Jason’s continued role with the RoughRiders, allows us the benefit of building upon the success we have achieved over the past four years, while adding Andy’s creativity, innovation and vision for greatness.
Dambach was named RoughRiders GM in January 2015 and has continued in that position for the past two years after relocating back to his home in State College, Pa. in May 2016.
“This is an exciting day for the Frisco RoughRiders to welcome someone as knowledgeable, well-respected and passionate about the immeasurable impact our team can make in the community as Andy,” said Dambach. “For nearly two years, since I relocated back to State College, Chuck and I have discussed and agreed upon the need for strong day-to-day leadership on the ground in Frisco in order to achieve our franchise’s long term goals. All along, there’s been no doubt that Andy is the one person uniquely qualified for the role.”
Under Milovich’s leadership in Myrtle Beach, which began in December 2012 when he was named Executive Vice President and General Manager, the Pelicans have become known as one of the baseball industry’s leaders in community engagement, innovative game day promotions and creative marketing campaigns.
Milovich led the creation of the Pelicans Play It Forward Community Initiative that has given back over $2 million in donations, fundraising proceeds, in-kind services and community service since launching the program in 2013. He also guided the team to new club records in ticket revenue, spearheaded the development of a unique marketing and tourism program built around Myrtle Beach’s major league affiliation with the Chicago Cubs, and led the team to Baseball America‘s 2015 Bob Freitas Award as the top Class-A Minor League Baseball franchise in the country.
“I’m thrilled that Chuck Greenberg and the RoughRiders’ ownership group has entrusted me with the opportunity to lead this franchise in a community that offers boundless opportunities to build generations of fans and a stronger affinity for the unique experience of Minor League Baseball,” said Milovich. “The foundation that has been laid under Chuck, Jason, Scott Burchett and the rest of our front office team is the perfect base from which to continue growing the RoughRiders into our industry’s most successful and respected franchise and, more importantly, a deeper-rooted member of the community we call home.”
Prior to joining Myrtle Beach in December 2012, Milovich also served as the top executive with the West Virginia Power (2004-12), Mahoning Valley Scrappers (1999-03) and Erie SeaWolves (1996-98). He was involved in the launching of new ballparks and brand identities in all three locations.
Milovich was the recipient of The Sporting News Minor League Executive of the Year following the Erie SeaWolves’ third consecutive New York-Penn League attendance record during the 1997 season. He earned the NYPL’s Executive of the Year Award following a league record-setting 203,000 fans in 38 dates during the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ 2000 campaign. More recently, he was named Carolina League Executive of the Year in 2014.
Andy’s career began in 1990 as an intern with the South Bend White Sox (Low A; Midwest League) and later continued with positions with the Arizona Fall League, the Tucson Toros (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and his first full-time position with the Class-A Madison (WI) Hatters.
The South Bend, Indiana native graduated from Valparaiso University where he obtained a B.S. in both Business Administration and Sports Management. He was a four-year member the Crusaders’ NCAA Division I baseball program. Andy, his wife Cher, and daughters Addison and Dylan, will be relocating to Frisco in the coming weeks.
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