MINK League sees leadership, membership changes ahead of 2026 season
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The MINK League's off-season is active with tapping new leadership and introducing new teams.
Clifton Glidewell was named the league's new commissioner and Bob Coons was named deputy commissioner.
Glidewell fills the role left by Ron Rodriguez in August and brings over 40 years of baseball experience to the position at every level.
Glidewell, a Kansas City, Missouri, native, was drafted out of New Mexico State University in the 30th round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After playing his career, Glidewell eventually joined the coaching ranks, working from the high school level up through junior college, NAIA and NCAA Division I. He also umpired high school, college and professional baseball.
Coons spent his previous two years as the league's assigner. He's umpired for the MINK for 10 years, has worked the Missouri State Show-Me Games since 2013 and was recognized as the Missouri State High School Activities Association's Umpire of the Year in 2024.
Glidewell and Coons will take on various roles, focusing on helping the league continue to grow.
Ky Turner, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Mustangs and Chris Whitaker, general manager of the Carroll Merchants, were re-elected to their positions as league president and vice president.
Following the league's annual winter meeting, its leadership announced the 2026 schedules will have a different look.
The MINK League will see the departure of the Sedalia Bombers and Jefferson City Renegades; however, it will gain the North Missouri Nattys of Kirksville, as well as a second team, which will be revealed soon.
The Nattys will play their home games on the full synthetic turf baseball field at Kirksville High School. The complex is about three years old, after a nearly $3 million sports project was completed in 2022.
The MINK League will also celebrate its 30th year of entertaining fans on the baseball diamond across the Midwest in 2026.
According to a news release, league officials have special announcements on the horizon with a nod to MINK history. The league said the complete regular season and postseason schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
