Eastern Connecticut State pitching coach and former Silver Knights lefty pitcher Nick Guarino has been named the new Silver Knights manager. (Photo courtesy of the Nashua Silver Knights/Eastern Conn. State)

NASHUA – The Nashua Silver Knights have their man.

They have hired former Knights pitcher Nick Guarino, who is the Eastern Connecticut State pitching coach and co-recruiting coordinator, as their sixth field manager to take the helm entering the franchise’s 15th season in 2025.

The lefty pitching Guarino had a superb 2020 season, known for pitching the Knights to a win in Game 2 of the FCBL Finals vs. Worcester at Holman Stadium. He played his college ball at Clark University as well as Southern Connecticut State.

It’s his first time being in charge of a team. He replaces the popular Kyle Jackson, who stepped down at seasons end after a decade-long tenure as pitching coach and manager to spend more time with his family.

Guarino just finished his first year in college coaching, and said that that career path was something he had his sights set on.

“As I got older, with baseball and playing in college, I kind of figured out that was the path I was going to go with,” Guarino said when reached Wednesday night. “Throughout my career, whenever I was in the dugout, I was always in the front of the dugout, sitting with the coaches, even during my time in Nashua.”

Familiarity with the Silver Knights was a key for both team management and Guarino, who told general manager Cam Cook Nashua would be the only place he’d want to manage in the Futures Collegiate League.

“Having played here for two years and winning a championship, I know how important it is to maintain the winning culture that the Silver Knights have established since 2011. I’m excited to continue that tradition,” Guarino said. “Nick’s deep connection to the team and hs extensive experience make him the perfect fit,” Cook said, noting that he has big shoes to fill as he noted Jackson’s “legacy with the organization is unparalled.”

Cook late Wednesday confirmed the hire, which will be formally announced today. He said there were 11 candidates being considered, and it was whittled down to a handful. Team owner John Creedon, Jr., Cook said, got involved in the final stage, talking to Cook’s preferred candidate. It was possibly first thought that the team would explore the idea of an experienced, older manager that doubles as a head college coach, but Cook said there would be too many conflicts for an older, longer tenured head coach as running a college baseball program with the transfer portal factor, etc. is a year round job.

“It (Guarino’s lack of head coaching/managerial experience) doesn’t bother me a ton,” Cook said, “just because he’s a little bit younger. I look around the league, Kyle hadn’t been a head coach until he got here. Kevin Murphy at Norwich hadn’t been a head coach anywhere and he’s had great success (back to back FCBL titles).

“Don’t get me wrong, but I think a lot of young up-and-coming coaches look at the Futures League or the NECBL or some of these summer ball formats as a really good way to get into the head coaching position to prove your worth.”

Cook likes the fact that Guarino played for a title team in 2020 that was considered one of the best Silver Knight teams ever – it had a lot of Division I players because due to COVID the FCBL was the only summer league going – and then one of the worst teams the franchise has had in 2021.

“He’s seen the ups, he’s seen the downs,” Cook said. “He got to see how Kyle managed the good, the bad, the ugly.

“That’s one of the things I love – how hungry, how energetic he is for the position.”

Cook says he has already started working with Guarino on next season’s roster. The Silver Knights will be looking for a complete turnaround, as they missed the FCBL playoffs for the second year in a row, the first time that’s happened in their 14 seasons.