The Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team has played in Nashville, Tennessee, since being established in 1978 as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League. They moved up to Triple-A in 1985 as members of the American Association before joining the Pacific Coast League in 1998. With the restructuring of the minor leagues in 2021, they were placed in the Triple-A East, which became the International League in 2022. The team has been led by 29 managers throughout its history. Managers are responsible for team strategy and leadership on and off the field, including determining the batting order, arranging defensive positioning, and making tactical decisions regarding pitching changes, pinch-hitting, pinch-running, and defensive replacements.[1] Rick Sweet has been the Sounds' manager since 2021.
As of the completion of the 2024 season, Nashville's managers have led the club for 6,566 regular-season games in which they have compiled a win–loss record of 3,398–3,168–2 (.518). In 16 postseason appearances, their teams have a record of 49–44 (.527) and have won two Southern League championships and one Pacific Coast League championship. Combining all 6,659 regular-season and postseason games, the Sounds have an all-time record of 3,447–3,212–2 (.523).
Five managers have been selected as their league's Manager of the Year. Stump Merrill (1980) won the Southern League Manager of the Year Award. Rick Renick (1993 and 1996) won the American Association Manager of the Year Award. Frank Kremblas (2007) and Steve Scarsone (2016) won the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Award. Rick Sweet (2022) won the International League Manager of the Year Award. Mike Guerrero (2013) and Rick Sweet (2022) won the Mike Coolbaugh Award in recognition for their contributions in developing and mentoring young players in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Three managers have been selected for midseason All-Star teams. George Scherger coached the 1979 Southern League All-Star team. Two others participated in the Triple-A All-Star Game. Pete Mackanin coached on the National League team in 1991, and Rick Renick managed the American League team in 1994.
Rick Sweet has won 392 games over five seasons (2014, 2021–2024), placing him first on the all-time wins list for Sounds managers. Having managed the team for 706 games, he is also the longest-tenured manager in team history. The manager with the highest winning percentage over a full season or more is Stump Merrill (1980–1981), with .622. Conversely, the lowest winning percentage over a season or more is .437 by manager Mike Guerrero (2012–2013).