UNCW Alumni Take the Helm: Cape Fear Fish Sticks Unveil Coaching Staff

WILMINGTON, N.C., – The Cape Fear Fish Sticks, the newest addition to the Old North State League, announced their coaching staff for the 2026 summer season on Monday, November 18. Impressively, all three coaches have strong ties to the University of North Carolina Wilmington, bringing local pride and national expertise to the team.

Head Coach Trent Mongero is a UNCW baseball legend. The 1989 CAA Conference Player of the Year and member of the UNCW All-Decade Team, Mongero played professionally in the Minor Leagues before becoming a highly decorated high school coach. Over his career, he amassed more than 500 wins, two state championships, multiple Final Four and Elite Eight appearances, earned National High School Coach of the Year honors, two Georgia Coach of the Year awards, and induction into two halls of fame. After guiding his high school team to the playoffs in 2022, Mongero focused on player development, founding the Dirt BroTM Elite Infield Academy alongside his son, Taber, training top-level infielders nationwide and shaping the next generation of elite defenders.

Pitching Coach JD Everett joined UNCW as a junior in 2024 and quickly made his mark by winning a CAA championship. Prior to UNCW, Everett honed his skills at Wake Forest University and Gaston College, where he helped lead Gaston to a JUCO World Series appearance in 2023. Now the Graduate Assistant Pitching Coordinator at UNCW, Everett works directly with pitchers to develop technique, strategy, and performance through data, feel, and smart adjustments.

Coach Richard Foy, a Wilmington baseball icon, brings more than 45 years of experience to the dugout. Foy, a UNCW alumnus, led New Hanover High School from 2008 to 2021, earning two state championships and a record of 191-90. His decades-long commitment to coaching has made him one of the most respected figures in the local baseball community. The Cape Fear Fish Sticks will begin play in May 2026 at North Brunswick High School, bringing a summer of competitive baseball and family fun to the Cape Fear region.

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About the Cape Fear Fish Sticks

The Cape Fear Fish Sticks are the newest team in the Old North State League, a premier summer collegiate baseball league. The team will feature talented college players from the region and across the country, offering fans an exciting summer of high-level baseball. By combining top-tier coaching, local roots, and national talent, the Fish Sticks aim to become a cornerstone of Cape Fear summer sports while providing a platform for the next generation of elite athletes.

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Media Contact:

Tom Lamont, General Manager

910-742-1937 |