Canaries manager Steve Shirley spent 15 years as a player, including pitching 11 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1982 and has worked as both a pitching coach and manager in independent baseball for four seasons.

Shirley managed the Sioux City Explorers to a 33-32 record in 2005 before leaving the club and returning to his New Mexico home to address some personal matters. Shirley spent the 2006 season as the pitching coach for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League. His staff was second in the Northern League with a 3.78 earned run average. He also served as a pitching coach for the Duluth-Superior Dukes in 1999.

Drafted in the second round by the Dodgers in 1974, Shirley’s 15 years of professional baseball playing experience also include time in the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Montreal Expos organizations. Shirley spent one month in the Major Leagues, debuting for the Dodgers on June 21, 1982. In 11 relief appearances for the Dodgers, he was 1-1 with a 4.76 earned run average.