Shirley, the longest-tenured Canaries manager in team history, enters his eighth season with the Birds, and he is one of just two managers with more than 300 victories in the American Association. In his second season as manager, Shirley led the Canaries to a 60-36 record, a First Half Division Title and the 2008 American Association championship. In 2010, Shirley guided the Canaries (then Pheasants) to their best record ever (63-33), a North Division pennant and spot in the league championship series. Shirley also notched his 200th win as a manager and became the career leader in managerial wins in Sioux Falls. In both 2008 and 2010, Shirley earned the American Association's Manager of the Year award. Shirley managed previously with the Sioux City Explorers in 2005.

As a player, Shirley was a second round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974 and went on to a 15-year professional career. In 1982, Shirley pitched in 11 major league games for the Dodgers. He finished the season with a 1-1 record and a 4.36 ERA. He spent time playing in the Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos and Pittsburg Pirates organizations. Shirley also played professional baseball internationally in Japan and South America.

Shirley resides in Albuquerque, N.M. He is a proud parent of four children -- Jessica, Kyle, Keith and Kate -- and one granddaughter, Sophia.