Joe Calfapietra returns to the Jackals dugout for his 10th season as the team’s field manager in 2012. It will mark his 13th year as a professional manager. Calfapietra, a two-time Manager of the Year recipient, led the Jackals to their third straight playoff appearance last season and a berth in the league championship series.

Calfapietra, 42, is a native of Royersford, PA. He played baseball at Eastern College in Saint David’s, PA, where he was a two-time Division III All-American selection at first base. When he was not drafted out of college, Calfapietra turned to coaching and earned his Master’s Degree in Education. He has spent time collegiately as an assistant coach at Eastern College, a volunteer assistant at St. Joseph’s University, and as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Villanova University.

He started his coaching career in 1994 with the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the Northern League. In 1995 and 1996, he coached the Aberdeen Pheasants of the Prairie League. Following his time in Aberdeen, he was named Director of Baseball Operations for the Allentown Ambassadors, a job he held for five years, including two seasons as manager in 2000-2001. After guiding the Gary SouthShore RailCats (Northern League) in 2002, Calfapietra became the New Jersey manager in 2003. His 2004 Jackals team won the Northeast League Championship.