Mack Whitford Wins 2016 BC Minor Coach of the Year for 18U

The BC Minor Baseball Association has named Midget Royals' head coach Mackenzie Whitford the recipient of the 2016 18U Coach of the Year Award.  In Mack's third season as head coach, the 2016 edition of the Royals compiled a 25-16 league record which was good for third place in the eight-team College Prep League.  The team then swept West Kelowna in the best of three playoff series and advanced to the championship game in the Final Four before falling to Chilliwack 3-2.  Over his three seasons as head coach, Mack has compiled a league record of 80-38 which includes a league and Provincial Championship in 2015.

Mack greg up in Maple Ridge and played his minor baseball with the Ridge Meadows Minor Baseball Association.  After graduating from the Midget program, Mack immediately transitioned in to coaching as he became an assistant with the Midget AAA team in 2005 that won the Provincial and Western Canada Championships.  In 2007 Mack began a successful three year stint coaching the team with his long-time friend Nor Ljunggren which culminated in the team winning another Provincial and Western Canada Championship during the 2009 season.

After spending a couple of years coaching at various levels throughout RMMBA, Mack helped to revive the Midget AAA team as head coach in 2014 after the program had been on hiatus for two seasons.  After a fairly successful first year back, the 2015 eidition of the Royals dominated the league with a 38-4 regular season record en route to another Provincial Championship.  The 2016 team continued to build on the excellene and consistency that the program has displayed over the years with Mack's involvement.

Mack brings not only a strong passion for the game of baseball but also an intensity that rubs off on his players.  He sets high expectations for not only his players but also himself and his fellow coaches.  He treats his players like men and expects them to act like it.  Mack takes pride in seeing his players achieve success both on and off the field, which includes seeing a number of his players continue on to play college baseball after graduating from the program.  He id dedicated to developing baseball players of all ages and his achievements over the past decade make him a very worthy recipient of this award.