History

The Okotoks Dawgs baseball program began in 1995 with an elite youth travel team in Calgary, Alberta. Limited recreational baseball development programs prompted the team’s founders to create an independent youth program modeled after top US travel teams.

The Dawgs aimed to provide dedicated players with competitive coaching and a challenging schedule, averaging 80 to 90 games per season against premier competition. This formula led to success, with every player on the original team earning a college baseball scholarship. Several players went on to have stellar minor league careers, and one even made it to the Major Leagues.

Beyond their athletic achievements, the Dawgs team included multiple college graduates, Academic All Americans, future businessmen, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and MBA’s. They converted their passion for baseball into success not only on the field but also in life.

The Dawgs have grown exponentially since their original travel team, but their vision, philosophy, and goals remain the same: to provide dedicated young athletes with coaching, competition, and facilities to maximize their potential, whether at the collegiate or professional level.

Their summer collegiate club, with attendance exceeding 4,700 fans per game, has consistently been ranked 3rd in North America with Seaman Stadium named the Best Ballpark in Summer Collegiate Baseball by Ballpark Digest.

The Dawgs currently hold the most WCBL championships in the league, with 8 titles since 2004, including two 3-peats (2007-2009 | 2022-2024).

Coaching

Professional coaching has always been a priority for the Dawgs. They now have one of the deepest and most experienced full-time coaching staffs in amateur and youth baseball, starting with Head Coach Mitch Schmidt, Interim Head Coach Lou Pote, David Robb, Andy Peterson, and Joe Sergent.

Coach Schmidt joins the Dawgs from Bellevue University, where he’s Associate Head Coach. Bellevue is perennially ranked in the Top 25 in NAIA college baseball, has won multiple conference championships, and participated in numerous NAIA College World Series with a National Championship. Interim Head Coach, Lou Pote, played 20 years of professional baseball and won a World Series championship in 2002 with the Anaheim Angels. 2025 will be the third year heading up the Dawgs collegiate team as he looks to bring home a 4th straight WCBL championship. David Robb, a longtime Dawgs coach and mentor, joins from top-ranked JUCO, Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona. Coach Robb has had success coaching at all levels, collegiate, professional, international, and youth. Andy Peterson joins the summer collegiate staff from Linn-Benton Community College,the 2024 NWAC Champions. During his playing career, Peterson earned a NCAA Division 1 National Championship with the Oregon State Beavers, was drafted by and played in the Seattle Mariners minor league system, and returned to Oregon State as a coach before taking the head coach job at Linn-Benton. Pitching Coach Joe Sergent joins from the Dawgs Academy, where he’s one of our outstanding pitching coaches. As a player, Coach Sergent starred at Lamar University in Texas, was drafted and played in the Florida Marlins organization, and finished his career earning Top Pitcher honors in Independent Baseball.

Facilities

In 2006, due to disputes with a failed independent league franchise in Calgary, the Dawgs built state-of-the-art facilities in Okotoks, a town of 30,000 residents just 20 minutes south of Calgary. Local businessmen and philanthropists Don Seaman and Daryl K. (Doc Seaman) generously funded the project. On June 7, 2007, the Dawgs held their first Opening Night at Seaman Stadium, under a prophetic double rainbow, before sold-out crowds. That season marked the first of three consecutive WMBL Championships at their new home. The Dawgs have now won a record 7 WCBL Championships.

Seaman Stadium, the premier amateur baseball stadium in the country, offers full-service amenities including stadium and berm seating, concessions, clubhouses, multiple washrooms, a press box, video boards, lighting, merchandise, and patios. Recent upgrades have increased the facility’s cost to over $22 million.

In 2009, the Dawgs completed the Duvernay Fieldhouse, a year-round indoor training center with a turf infield, batting cages, clubhouses, cardio and weight training facilities, a video analysis room, coaches’ offices, and a lobby viewing area. This facility has enabled year-round training and development for the Dawgs.

In 2011, with the Dawgs Academy’s growth, Tourmaline Field, a second full-sized stadium facility, was added. It features stadium and berm seating, turf infield and natural grass outfield, outdoor batting cages, bullpens, a press box, digital scoreboard, lighting, clubhouses, and washrooms.

In 2013, the Dawgs partnered with the Town of Okotoks to build Conrad Field, a unique baseball complex with batting cages, a digital scoreboard, and a “brown monster” in right field. It quickly became the premier “Bantam” facility in the province and country. Combined with Riverside Baseball Diamond, it’s the preferred site for regional and provincial championships.

Dawgs Academy

Dawgs Academy is one of Canada’s premier baseball development programs, providing elite training and exposure for aspiring student-athletes. With a proven track record of success, the academy has helped over 250 players earn college scholarships, produced 42 Team Canada selections, and seen 26 alumni drafted into Major League Baseball. The program boasts a highly experienced coaching staff of over 14 full-time coaches, including former MLB players like Matt Stairs and Lou Pote, along with seasoned professionals such as Tyler Hollick, Bryan Donohue, Bretton Gouthro, Aaron Ethier, and Jeff Duda. Each coach brings extensive college and/or professional playing experience, ensuring top-tier instruction for all athletes.

Dawgs Academy teams compete in a rigorous schedule of 60+ games annually, traveling to premier tournaments such as Best of the West, Perfect Game events, Pastime events, the Palouse Summer Series, and the Curt Daniels Invitational. The program also hosts its own elite tournaments, including the 18U Mother’s Day Classic, 15U Canada Day Classic, and 15U Father’s Day Classic. To maximize exposure for its athletes, the academy organizes a PBR Scout Day for all 18U players and a dedicated Pro Scout Day. Additionally, the annual Fall College Tour takes players across the western United States to compete against top programs like Oregon State, the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, Washington State, Utah, Gonzaga, and San Jose State University, along with some of the best junior colleges. All of this is made possible by the academy’s state-of-the-art facilities, including Seaman Stadium, the Duvernay Fieldhouse, Tourmaline Field, and Conrad Field, providing players with the resources to develop at the highest level.