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Korey Dunbar, left, will stay on as Asheboro ZooKeepers GM, but Mark Weidemaier will coach the team next season.

ZooKeepers get new manager for 2026 season

ASHEBORO — Mark Weidemaier, a Liberty resident who has held numerous positions in Major League Baseball and professional baseball leagues for more than four decades, was named the new manager for the Asheboro ZooKeepers, it was announced recently.

Weidemaier, who for the past two summers was the head coach for the Bismarck Larks of the Northwoods League, takes over for Korey Dunbar, who will remain as the organization’s General Manager.

Weidemaier has spent time as a coach, advisor and scout for the Kansas City Royals, California Angels, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals.

Dunbar, who spent the last three seasons as Asheboro’s coach, said the time was right to make the change.

“I will absolutely always love coaching, it’s something I love,” Dunbar said. “But I love a lot of pieces of my job. The overall structure of the organization works out better this way. 

“There were times I was not able to fully be a head coach for an entire day and fully be a GM for the entire day. You are splitting your time and sometimes that’s not fair to the players and sometimes that’s not fair to the organization.”

The ZooKeepers finished 24-24 this past summer in the Coastal Plain League, just barely missing out on the postseason.

Dunbar said he decided about a month after the season ended that he was going to give the coaching side up.

“When I decided to do this, the main thing was to find the right person, someone who has the professionalism all of us have a strong value in,” Dunbar said, referring to Ronnie, Doug, Steve and Mike Pugh, the owners of the team along with Clint Marsh, the assistant GM. 

“He eats, sleeps and breathes baseball,” Dunbar said of Weidemaier. “It’s all he does, all he knows. It’s been his life.”

Weidemaier said he put a coaching resume into the CPL office and was contacted by the ZooKeepers. 

“His deep understanding of the game, player development, and winning mentality will have a tremendous impact on our organization and the community here in Asheboro,” Dunbar said. 

Weidemaier’s global baseball resume includes coaching stints in Korea, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, showcasing his ability to lead and connect with players across all levels and backgrounds.

“I’ve been in this game a long time and this is as exciting as anything I have ever done,” said Weidenmaier, who has been residing in Liberty for the past 14 years. “In all the years I’ve been here, I have rarely been home for the majority of the year. Worked in South Korea, Mexico, the Dominican Republic. A lot of travel. This will be a breath of fresh air to work in baseball from basically home.”

Weidenmaier, who was a key member of the Washington Nationals coaching staff when that team made its playoff runs in the 2010s, said although the college game is certainly changing with the portal, NIL and reduced roster spots for NCAA Division I programs, the core values he intends to instill on Asheboro players are key in running any successful baseball organization.

“Accountability,” he said. “They are here for a reason. Hopefully, they all want to get better and go back to their colleges better. 

“Work ethic. This is your opportunity, what a great opportunity for your growth. 

“Focus. A lot depends on the focus you put into this. Be willing to learn some things you don’t know.”

Weidemaier said he visited McCrary Park for the first time during the interview process. 

“This is one of the most beautiful ballparks anywhere,” he said. “I’ve been to parks all over the world and this one is as good as any. I’m excited for this. I want to thank the Pugh family along with GM Korey Dunbar for the privilege of being selected as the Manager of the Asheboro ZooKeepers for the summer of 2026.”

Mark and his wife, Tracy, live with their three dogs, Fenway, Rocky and Hope.

For more information about the upcoming summer season, visit www.zookeepersbaseball.com.