Coaching Staff

RUSS BURROUGHS

Returning for his fifth season in 2025, Russ Burroughs is the all-time winningest coach in Wilmington Sharks history, coming off an unforgettable 2024 season. Under his leadership, the Sharks captured both the CPL Championship and Eastern Division Championship, securing the franchise’s first CPL title since 1999. The team finished with an impressive 30 wins, marking only the fifth time in Sharks history to achieve this milestone. Known for his postseason success, Burroughs boasts a career .700 win percentage in the playoffs. The 2024 Sharks were no exception, with their pitching staff finishing top three in nearly every statistical category. During Burroughs’s tenure, the Sharks have consistently placed in the top six of the 15-team CPL each year.

In 2023, the Sharks reached the CPL playoffs for the first time since 2017 and clinched the Eastern Division Championship. The pitching staff excelled, finishing in the top three in categories including ERA, runs allowed, earned runs, hits allowed, and batting average against. The Sharks’ dominance on the mound extended to previous seasons as well. In 2021 and 2022, Burroughs’s pitching staff consistently ranked among the league’s top three in key metrics. The 2022 staff finished top three in ERA, runs allowed, earned runs, WHIP, and batting average against, while the 2021 squad earned top-three finishes in runs allowed, earned runs, hits allowed, and WHIP.

Burroughs has also made a significant impact as a recruiter and talent developer. Over the past six years, more than 40 players he coached have signed professional contracts, 8 have participated in the College World Series, 3 have represented their countries in the World Baseball Classic, and 25 have earned All-CPL first or second team honors.

Before joining the Sharks, Burroughs spent three seasons with the Edenton Steamers, formerly of the CPL. He served as pitching coach in 2017 before being promoted to head coach in 2018 and 2019. As a player, Burroughs competed in four seasons of professional baseball, including three with independent teams and one in international competition. He was known for his versatility, serving as a spot starter, left-handed specialist, and emergency designated hitter.

In the offseason, Burroughs serves as the Head Baseball Instructor at Nashville Baseball Academy, where he is in his 18th year. He also collaborates with Sidearm Nation, traveling internationally as a specialty instructor. A 2009 graduate of Lipscomb University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, Burroughs resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

CAIDEN WOOD

Caiden Wood returns to Wilmington in 2025, this time as the Sharks’ Pitching Coach. A Pittsburgh, PA native, Caiden previously spent two seasons (2022 & 2023) as a pitcher for the Sharks under Manager Russ Burroughs. In 2022, he led the Coastal Plain League in saves and earned 2nd Team All-Star honors. Over his two summers in Wilmington, he posted an impressive 0.68 ERA with eight saves before moving on to the MLB Draft League with the Frederick Keys.

Before transitioning to coaching, Caiden had a standout five-year career at Seton Hill University. He was a two-time Preseason All-American and Scholar-Athlete for the Griffins, finishing as the program’s all-time leader in pitching appearances (67), while recording 20 wins and a career 3.58 ERA.

BRYANT PACKARD

Bryant Packard joins the Sharks in 2025 as an assistant coach. A standout at East Carolina University, he made history as the program’s first player to earn First-Team All-American honors from all seven organizations as a sophomore. He also holds the school record for the longest hitting streak at 32 consecutive games.

Packard was selected in the 5th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers and was ranked the organization’s 12th overall prospect in 2020. His professional career showcased his talent and work ethic, but a back injury led to his retirement in 2023.

ADAM CARDIN

Adam Cardin returns to the Sharks in 2025, Cardin has been with the Sharks since the 2023 season. With a wealth of experience, Adam has now coached within the Coastal Plain League (CPL) for 9 seasons.

Adam’s intro to coaching was with the GCL Pirates in Bradenton, FL, after his playing career ended. Active in player development, he has seen 27 former players selected in the MLB draft and worked with former MLB All Stars!

Adam is a graduate of UNCW and currently resides in Wilmington with his family.

AUSTIN SKIPPER

Austin Skipper, a Wilmington, NC native, returns to the Sharks for the 2025 season as an assistant coach after serving as the team’s pitching coach in 2024.

Skipper brings a deep connection to the program, having spent six seasons as a player with the Sharks beginning in 2018. His final three years on the roster were under current Manager Russ Burroughs, where he developed as a pitcher and gained invaluable experience that now informs his coaching approach.

A proud alumnus of New Hanover High School, Skipper continued his baseball career at William Peace University, where he was a four-year starter and earned All-Conference honors in 2021. He then transferred to Methodist University for his final two years of eligibility, serving as team captain in 2023. Off the field, he excelled academically, earning his MBA in Business Administration and recognition as a scholar-athlete.