LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – January 30, 2023 – Jamie Sailors, Aviators Field Manager, announced today two assistant coaches for the upcoming Prospect League season. Joining Sailors in the dugout this summer will be Demeris Barlow and Jeff Wetzler.
“I’m excited to work with Demeris and Jeff during the 2023 season,” stated Sailors. “Both men take pride in developing players as well as becoming a better coach each and everyday. These guys will bring energy to the ballpark and will create a great culture of success for our players and team.”
Barlow comes to the Aviators from Saginaw (MI) Valley State University where he’s serving at the team’s hitting and infield coach.
He played college baseball at both Indiana Tech University and Indiana University South Bend. Barlow graduated from IU South Bend in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.
Wetzler is a native of Newburgh, IN and is in his first year as the Southwestern Illinois College serving as the team’s Hitting, Strength, and Conditioning Coordinator. Before joining the staff at SWIC, Wetzler was the Head Coach for Combine Academy’s High School baseball team. In 2022, Combine Academy was ranked as high as 12th in the nation.
Wetzler began his coaching career at Parkland College in 2018 and spent three and a half years as Parkland’s Hitting Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. During his coaching stint at Parkland, he helped move 17 players to NCAA Division I, 9 to Division II, and 7 to NAIA level schools.
Wetzler attended McKendree University where he played baseball and majored in Sport Management. Prior to transferring to McKendree, Jeff spent two years playing at Parkland College.