Matt Howard, General Manager

Bio

KOKOMO, Ind. — The Kokomo Creek Chubs, a member of the Prospect League collegiate summer baseball league, are proud to announce the hiring of Matthew Howard as the team's new General Manager. 

Howard will oversee all baseball operations, player recruitment, and community engagement efforts as the Creek Chubs prepare for their inaugural season at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. 

Howard is no stranger to Kokomo baseball or the Prospect League. He played for the Slippery Rock Sliders, a former member of the Prospect League, in the summer of 2008. He previously served as the head coach of the Kokomo Jackrabbits from 2014 to 2016, helping establish the franchise during its early years. Howard spent a short time as an assistant coach at Ball State University before deciding to make Kokomo his permanent home, serving as the inaugural head coach for the Indiana University-Kokomo baseball program. While at IU-Kokomo, Howard led the program to a winning season in each of his 4 seasons. Howard is the winningest coach in program history, and his 2019 team record of 36-18 is still the program's finest season. The IU-Kokomo program reached the River States Conference postseason in each season Howard was at the helm. Howard has been a valuable member of the community, both on and off the field, leading him to this position with the Kokomo Creek Chubs. 

As a player, Howard was a DII All-American and conference player of the year while playing at Slippery Rock University. Following a decorated collegiate career, Howard played professionally for 3 seasons in the Frontier League. He spent two seasons with the Traverse City Beach Bums and one season with the Southern Illinois Miners. 

"We're thrilled to welcome Matt to the Creek Chubs organization," said Joe Thatcher, Kokomo native, former Major League pitcher, and part of the team's ownership group. "Matt has deep roots in Kokomo and an exceptional understanding of both the game and the community. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as we build a first-class summer collegiate program." 

"I'm excited to take on this new role with the Creek Chubs," said Howard. "Kokomo has always felt like home, and I am excited to work for and with Bullpen Ventures to bring a quality brand of baseball back to the city. Kokomo is a baseball town, and I have experienced firsthand the electricity which is possible at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. We are going to build an organization this community can be proud of and wants to root for. This community deserves our best, and we plan to deliver just that, both on and off the field." 

The Kokomo Creek Chubs are backed by an ownership and operations group rich in baseball experience, including former MLB veteran and Kokomo native Joe Thatcher, Bullpen Tournaments, and a close partnership with Prep Baseball. This group understands what it truly means to play college summer baseball and is committed to providing the best player experience on and off the field—featuring access to top-tier facilities, player development technology, data-driven insights, and an experienced coaching staff. 

The Creek Chubs will take the field for their first season in summer 2026, bringing high-level college baseball and family-friendly entertainment to central Indiana.