After failing to qualify for the Northwoods League postseason playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Madison Mallards announced Tuesday they were not renewing manager C.J. Thieleke's contract for the 2011 season.
Thieleke has led the squad for the last six years after serving as an assistant for two years. As manager, he compiled a career regular season record of 230-178, 6-7 in the Northwoods League postseason, and coached in two championship series. But the Mallards, playing in the league's largest market drawing record crowds to Warner Park, have missed the playoffs two straight years. The Mallards qualified for the postseason in five out of six seasons between 2003 and 2008, winning the league title in 2004 under Darrell Handelsman, Thieleke's predecessor.
"There are no hard feelings with C.J.," said team president Vern Stenman Tuesday afternoon. "It's time for a change for us and we think it's time for a change for C.J. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him back in this league next year. He could move on to somewhere bigger and better."
During his time in Madison, Thieleke also worked as an assistant with the successful MATC baseball program. He played college baseball at the University of Iowa, where he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1994. He played for two years in the Minnesota Twins farm system.
"He did a lot of great things for us and provided a lot of great memories," said Stenman. "The guy was in two championship series, brought a lot of great players through here. He's a good guy, a pretty special friend of mine and hopefully he will be for a long time to come."