A former major leaguer will direct the Neenah High School varsity baseball team next spring as Jack Taschner has been named the Rockets’ head coach.
Taschner, who played six seasons for four different major league teams, becomes the fifth head coach in Neenah history. He replaces Jim Piepenbrink, who retired after 11 seasons.
Piepenbrink led the Rockets to two WIAA state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2011 when the team finished 20-8. His 2018 squad went 13-8 overall. Piepenbrink was an assistant coach and freshman coach in the program for over 20 years prior to becoming varsity coach. He also taught 29 years in the high school’s Business Education Department and retired from teaching in 2011.
“Jim’s professionalism as a coach is unmatched,” said Neenah Athletic Director Josh Murnane. “He brought our program to new heights and gave over 30 years to Neenah baseball. We can’t thank him enough for his efforts.”
Taschner served as an assistant coach under Piepenbrink this past season and in 2015 and 2016. A Racine native, he starred collegiately at UW-Oshkosh and was a second round draft choice of the San Francisco Giants in 1999. He played four seasons with the Giants before pitching one season with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2010, he pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Taschner compiled a 10-5 career major league record and appeared in 222 career games, striking out 160 batters in 189 innings pitched.
Taschner works as the school resource officer at Appleton East High School and was named the Appleton Police Department’s “Officer of the Year” this past year. He earned a “Top Cop” award from the Wisconsin Department of Justice last month. Taschner also gained notoriety for a video leading the student section at an Appleton East football game last fall.
“Jack already has deep connections within our Neenah youth baseball program and his professional background in baseball and law enforcement brings instant credibility,” Murnane said. “He is a natural fit to lead our program.”
Taschner and his wife, Miriam, have four children, including a son Gradin, who will be a freshman at Neenah High School in the fall.
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