The Bulls Coaches

Don Daniels - Cary Post 67 Athletic Officer

Don has been involved with Cary American Legion baseball since 1991 and was the driving force in creating a junior legion team. His mission is to convey to everyone that the benefits of playing baseball extend beyond just playing the game. It is important that every player leave the program with life skills that will make him successful throughout their adulthood....respect for authority, pride in their work ethic, understanding the value of team work, exemplifying humility in success and honor in defeat. Don is an original Caryite and retired from the Cary Fire Department after more than 35 years. He and his wife Angie have one son, Dallas.

Ron Powell - Manager, 14th year

Ron is the founder of the Cary Bulls and the only manager they have ever had. In addition to the 2002, 2004, 2006 & 2008 Junior American Legion State Championship teams, Powell's other state championship teams include the 1993 Little League champs from West Raleigh, the 1993 12 & under State Games Gold Medalists, the 1995 14U State Games Gold Medalists, the 1997 15U State Games Gold Medalists, and the 1998 16U State Games Gold Medalists. His Bulls teams have won 439 games while losing only 108 for a winning percentage of more than 80%. 57 of his Bulls players have gone on to play in college and 8 have played professionally.

Ron grew up in Cary and played three sports at Cary High where he graduated in 1971. After graduating from NC State in 1975, he taught and coached at the high school level for six years. Ron spent the next 15 years umpiring high school, American Legion and college baseball. He was inducted into the Diamond Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He has two sons, Shannon and Landon, and lives in Cary with his wife Cathy.

Harold Kelly - Coach, 6th year

Harold Kelly is a coach in the Cary Post 67 Cary Bulls Jr Legion program. Harold coached with Raleigh Post 1 American Legion for a season in the mid 1980s, Little League and Jr. League in the Raleigh Parks leagues in the 80s before coaching for 6 seasons in the West Raleigh organization at the Little and Junior League levels. Kelly's 2004 West Raleigh 13U Babe Ruth All-stars were State runners-up to the eventual National 3rd-place finisher. Harold joined the Bulls staff in 2005.

Harold, originally from Raleigh, played the traditional 3 sports at Enloe High School, where he graduated in 1977. He played for Raleigh American Legion Post 1 and afterward played semi-pro baseball in Garner. Kelly graduated from NC State in 1981. Harold lives in Cary with his wife Lois, the Bulls scorekeeper and statistician.

 

Troy Strange - Assistant Coach, 3rd year

Troy grew up in Norfolk, VA where he played baseball and graduated from Rock Academy. He continued his playing career at Gardner-Webb College and began working in the restaurant design and consultation. After relocating to Cary, he began serving as an assistant coach at Cary Christian School. Troy enters his 1st season as the Head Coach at Cary Christian School in 2010. Troy lives in Cary.

Mike Cooper - Assistant Coach, 1st year

Mike began his baseball coaching career at West Raleigh 7 years ago. He was an assistant coach for two years before becoming a head coach. After becoming a head coach he coached in the Minor, Rookie, and National League where he coached several team to regular season and tournament championships. He coached 5 all star teams to consecutive State Championships (2005-2009) and 1 Southern Eastern Regional Championship (2005). In addition to coaching at West Raleigh he has coached an USSSA team, as an assistant for Leesville Middle School JV team and as assistant coach for the middle school varsity team. Mike grew up in West Raleigh and played three sports at Friendship Christian School where he graduated in 1987. He went on to play soccer at Tennessee Temple University before transferring and graduating from Mount Olive College. He currently serves as the Assistant Chief of Budget and Planning for the Cary Fire Department. He has two sons and one daughter, Dillon, Noah and Grace. He lives in Raleigh with his wife Wendy and their kids.