Greg Hickox began playing in the senior baseball circuit in 1989 and has found a way to stay involved with the game ever since.
So it makes sense that when the opportunity to coach the Moncton Fisher Cats presented itself, Hickox jumped at it.
With previous experience in the role and a lengthy resume on the diamond, he approached Fisher Cats General Manager Justin Delaney and secured the job.
“I just felt that when we won a few years ago, when I was co-coaching with Jeff Agnew, I never really dreamt that I would get the chance to be the head coach again, and I’ve grown to know a lot of the players on the team, and I felt it was a really good time to step up,” Hickox said in an interview.
In January, then Fisher Cats Head Coach Patrick Tardif resigned from the role and left a void in the organization.
When asked about the pressure of fielding a winning team, Hickox responded that in Moncton, “if you win, they will come,” a twist on the famous line from the baseball film Field of Dreams.
However, for Hickox, baseball is about more than just the figure in the win column. It’s about a bond that stems much deeper than just a game.
“My dad travels with us on the road, and it’s kinda become a thing that I share with my dad,” Hickox said.
“He’s quite proud that I was named head coach, and it’s become a special experience to do it with him in the summertime, so I really look forward to doing it again this summer.”
With the pandemic hopefully in the rearview mirror, Hiscox wants to also spend the summer surrounded by the fans who came back to Kiwanis Park in large crowds last year.
It’s those same fans who overwhelmed Hickox with support when the team announced his new role last week.
“I would expect to hear from people that were close to me, but to know that fans were talking about it and excited that really made me confident,” he said.
Moncton will see more competition this year after the 2021 New Brunswick Senior Baseball League involved three teams, the Fisher Cats, the Saint John Alpines and the Charlottetown Islanders.
This season will see the return of the Chatham Ironmen and the Fredericton Royals.
Hickox is prepared for the high expectations and increased competition, but regardless of the outcome, he’s going to soak it all in as if it’s his last time on the field.
“You never when it’s gonna all end, and I just want one more crack at it.”
