Leading The Way !

The Gulls are excited to welcome back Mike Coombs to Newport for 2025...fresh off back-to-back titles with all eyes starting down a three-peat!

Coombs took over as field manager four games in to the 2005 season and the rest is history. He owns a career regular-season record of 335-169, a .665 winning percentage, and guided the Gulls to five NECBL titles (2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2024) during his tenure. Under Coombs, the Newport Gulls became the winningest franchise in league history, and in 2012 were ranked as the overall No. 1 summer collegiate team nationally by Perfect Game USA. Coombs also owns a 50-18 all-time postseason record (a .735 winning percentage), giving him an NECBL-best 385-187 overall win-loss record as manager, a .673 winning percentage through 572 games.

In 2024, the Gulls welcomed back Four-Time NECBL Champion and Newport Gulls Hall of Famer Mike Coombs (2024) to the 2024 Coaching staff. Coombs led the Gulls to a 27-16 record in 2024 winning yet another Coast Division Championship, as well as his fifth and Gulls' league leading eighth NECBL Championship! Coombs is returning yet again as the team’s manager for the 2025 season! Coombs, a name synonymous with the Newport Gulls, managed the team from 2005 to 2015, 2018, and 2024. Coach Coombs led the Newport Gulls to another NECBL Title in 2024 and secured back-to-back championship, a feat the Gulls last accomplished in 2001 and 2002. With Coach Coombs back in saddle for 2025, the Gulls look to raise the bar once again, with all eyes on a three-peat.

In 2015, the Gulls Skipper once again led the team to an NECBL-best record of 27-15 during the Gulls 15th Anniversary Season at historic Cardines Field. Coombs served as manager for the NECBL Southern Division All-Stars, and earned his 300th career regular season victory since taking over as manager with a July 17 win at home vs. the New Bedford Bay Sox, 12-3. After defeating Rhode Island rival the Ocean State Waves in a three-game series in the quarterfinal playoff round, the Gulls were eliminated by the Mystic Schooners in the Division Championship Series.

In 2014, the Gulls overcame adversity and a tough slump in early July to fight their way to a playoff hot streak and several breathtaking, come-from-behind postseason victories, including Game Three wins vs. the Ocean State Waves and the regular season division champion Plymouth Pilgrims in the first two rounds, before sweeping the Sanford Mainers for the organization's sixth league championship.

In 2013, Coombs again led the Gulls to an NECBL-best 30-14 in the league's first ever 44-game schedule, sweeping an impressive three doubleheaders in three consecutive days while making up rained out games during the season's final week, finishing the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. Coombs again served as manager for the NECBL East All-Stars, who won a hard-fought 2-1 contest. Coombs managed the Gulls to sweeps of Sanford and Mystic in the playoffs before falling in three games to the Keene Swamp Bats in the finals.

In 2012, Coombs led the Gulls to the best record in the NECBL at 31-10 during the regular season. Going 6-1 in the postseason, the Gulls defeated the Danbury Westerners, two games to none, for Newport's league-record fifth Fay Vincent, Sr. Cup. Coombs was also the manager for the Eastern Division All-Star Team.

In 2011, Coombs led the Gulls to 29-13 record, the best in the NECBL during the regular season, and again managed his division's team at the All-Star Game. The Gulls earned another Eastern Division regular season title before they were defeated by the Laconia Muskrats in the first round of the NECBL playoffs.

In 2010, Coombs guided the Gulls to a 27-15 record and another division crown during the regular season. The Gulls swept the Muskrats in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual NECBL Champion North Shore Navigators in the Eastern Division Championship Series.

In 2009, the Gulls won their fourth NECBL title, defeating the Vermont Mountaineers in three games. For his exceptional summer, Coombs was named the Manager of Team NECBL for the league’s exhibition contest versus Team USA. Coombs was also named the Manager of the Eastern Division All-Star team and was named the 2009 NECBL Coach of the Year.

In 2008, Coombs was named the manager of the Southern Division All-Star Team for the second time in four seasons, as the Gulls finished 26-16 during the regular season before losing to the Sanford Mainers in the NECBL Championship Series.

In 2007, Coombs led the Gulls to the 25-win plateau during the regular season once again (25-17), but Newport fell to the Vermont Mountaineers in the NECBL Championship Series.

In 2006, Coombs steered the Gulls to a team and NECBL record 32-10 overall record during the regular season and was named the 2006 NECBL Coach of the Year. 32 wins still stand as the most wins in an NECBL season, even after expanding the season to 44 games. Coombs also managed the 2006 Southern Division All-Star Team.

In 2005, Coombs led the Gulls to a 26-16 record during the regular season and then on to the team’s third NECBL Championship during his first season at the helm. Coombs was an assistant coach for the season's first three games before taking over for the remainder of the season as manager.

The ever-colorful Coach Coombs has an extensive background in baseball, playing as a catcher and outfielder for Seminole Community College, in the Shenandoah Valley Collegiate League and professionally for the Detroit Tigers organization. He has coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, including as a pitching coach with the University of South Florida and the Milwaukee Brewers organization. A former player for Florida Southern College, later, as a coach with the team, Coombs won the national championship in 1981 and 1985.

"The way people treat me in Newport is wonderful," said Coombs. "I couldn't have asked for a better second home than Newport. I always loved coming back for that reason. The baseball is great; the players and coaches are great. Being a part of the Newport Gulls family is something special."

During his first three seasons in Newport, Coombs wore uniform number 25. Afterwards, he wore number 11. 

The Newport Gulls are thrilled to have Kevin Smith as pitching coach for the 2025 season, Smith brings 46 years of coaching experience to Newport, Smith steps into shoes of Kevin Long, who was a member of the Gulls coaching staff for four NECBL championships.

Smith, a former high school teacher, has coached baseball dating back to his teaching days as early as 1979. In 1994, he began his college coaching journey as pitching coach for Citrus  Community College in Glendora, California. Smith has been a pitching coach for several colleges in California, including Pomona Pitzer, University of La Verne and Providence Christian College. Smith also has head coaching experience at Mt. San Antonio College and most recently Providence Christian. Smith, one of the most tenured and accomplished baseball men in California, was honored by being inducted to the California Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Smith is a summer ball veteran as well, even spending a couple of summers in the NECBL with the North Adams SteepleCats as their pitching coach, as well as a season with the Newark Pilots. Smith has coached 22 players who have played at the professional level, including 2022 American League All-Star Ty France.

Smith values the relationships formed between player and coach immensely, stating “I enjoy learning about each individual player and finding out what motivates them… Open communication leads to trust in all areas.” He will have the opportunity to get to know a fantastic pitching staff in Newport this summer, with great arms such as Kade Shatwell, Caden Connolly and countless others.

Third times the charm for the Newport Gulls coaching staff! In addition to the upcoming hunt for a third consecutive Fay Vincent Sr Cup, the Newport Gulls coaching staff are bringing home the three 2024 NECBL Champion coaches who brought Newport their first back-to-back league title since the Gulls’ installation in 01’ and 02’.

The third coach rounding out our Coaches spotlight is none other than the man who invented hitting himself – Ted Regan! Ted Regan enters his fifth year as the Gulls hitting coach in 2025.

Regan has a wealth of experience under his belt, having served as an assistant coach for Eckerd College for the last 17 years. Regan has been an assistant coach and manager for numerous summer collegiate teams including the Bourne Braves and the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Prior to joining the Gulls coaching staff in 2021, Regan spent time with the former New Bedford Bay Sox of the NECBL.

While coaching for Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River, MA, Regan was given the honor of "Coaches Who Make a Difference" by the Fall River Herald News He served as the Director for River City Baseball for 15 years and coached the 1996 USA and Japan Friendship Series in Tokyo.

With nearly 30 years of coaching experience, Regan looks to add another title to his long list of accolades as the Gulls look to become the first team to three-peat as NECBL Champions for the first time since 97’-99’ when the Middletown Giants last accomplished the feat.