DURHAM, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League announced this afternoon that Russ Burroughs of the Wilmington Sharks has been named the 2026 CPL Coach of the Year following the summer season.

“This award is incredibly special to me,” said Burroughs. “I’ve poured my heart into coaching for a long time, and to be recognized in this league is something I’ll never take for granted. Individual recognition in coaching is also a reflection of the people around you. I had great players who allowed us to coach them, an unbelievable coaching staff that invested in them every day, and an organization and community that believed in what we were building.

“Coaching has never just been about filling out a lineup or making decisions during a game. It’s about creating an environment where young men can grow, establishing a standard they believe in, and getting 40 different personalities to pull in the same direction. If you can do that, winning usually takes care of itself. To be recognized with this honor is something I’ll always be incredibly proud of.”

Under Burroughs, the Sharks were once again competitive throughout the season and finished the regular season with the second-best record at 32-14, earning the 2 seed in the East. As a team, the club was fourth in batting average with a .283 mark, while their pitching staff was second in the league in both team ERA and WHIP at 5.09 and 1.50 respectively.

In the postseason, they blew out Holly Springs, 9-1 in the first round, and then rallied twice to overcome early deficits against top-seeded Morehead City, sweeping the Marlins on their way to their third Petitt Cup Championship Finals in four years. Facing the West Division champion Macon Bacon, the Sharks surrendered the lead late in game 1 to fall to 0-1 in the best-of-three series. Wilmington once again dug themselves a hole early, dropping behind 7-2 after the first three innings of game 2. But Burroughs got his team together and challenged them to overcome and rally like they had many times before.

“From day one, I challenged our guys to understand that when they put on a Sharks uniform, they were playing for something bigger than themselves. They were playing for the guy next to them, everyone who had worn that uniform before them, and the city of Wilmington. I wanted them to understand what it meant to be a Shark. By the end of the summer, they did. No matter the score or the situation, we always believed in ourselves and knew we were going to find a way. That’s what I’ll remember most about this team.”

And find a way they did. Little by little, Wilmington chipped away at Macon’s game 2 lead till they had tied the game and sent it into extras. Then, they would walk it off in the bottom of the 12th to force the all-deciding game 3. The next night, the Sharks showed up from the start in front of the home crowd and never looked back, winning their second CPL Petitt Cup championship in three years.

“This league has been a huge part of my life and my growth as a coach,” stated Burroughs. “Wilmington has become a second home, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built there. The wins and championships are something I’ll always remember, but watching players grow, building relationships with them and having an impact that lasts beyond a summer is what keeps bringing me back.”

<strong>About Coastal Plain League:</strong>
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier and most innovative summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,800 alumni drafted, and 216 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Jake Cave, Alec Bohm, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.

<strong>About Capitol Broadcasting Company:</strong>
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, and WRAL Digital in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV and WILT-LD in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality, and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; The Zebulon Devil Dogz in Zebulon, NC; the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC; Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC; MoJud Lofts in Greensboro, NC; and The Thread in Rock Hill, SC.