Dunbar exits; ZooKeepers hire new GM

ASHEBORO — Korey Dunbar has always wanted to remain in baseball at some capacity. The former University of North Carolina catcher, minor league player and coach and general manager of the Asheboro ZooKeepers has always called the baseball diamond one of his homes.

Now that home will be closer to his actual home in Garner.

Dunbar, who spent two years as head coach of the ZooKeepers and three years as the team’s GM, resigned to take a position with the Zebulon Devil Dogs, which just completed its first season in the Coastal Plain League. Dunbar will be in charge of ticket sales with added duties likely.

“It’s a lot closer to my home and it’s in baseball,” said Dunbar, whose drive to Asheboro from his home would take between 1 hour and 45 minutes and two hours every day. “Right now it’s ticketing, but I’m sure I will have other duties.”

The ZooKeepers wasted little time in elevating Assistant General Manager Clint Marsh to General Manager. Marsh, who has extensive college coaching experience, has been the assistant GM for Asheboro the past three seasons.

Dunbar was the ZooKeepers’ head coach in 2023 and 2024, talking over the GM duties beginning in 2024, a position he held through the 2026 season. 

The team, which finished third in the West Division, qualified for the CPL post-season this year for the first time since 2016. In its first year of existence, the Zebulon Devil Dogs finished 13-33, last in the East Division

Dunbar said he is looking forward to a new challenge, a new challenge much closer to his home, wife and daughter.

“I probably have driven for every job I’ve been at and having my wife and daughter here makes things a little tricky,” Dunbar said. “Being close to them and still be in a position to make an impact on and off the field. That is the best thing for my family and myself.

“I’m extremely grateful for the Randolph County community and very appreciative of the Pugh family.”

In a story on the team’s website, the owners of the team — Ronnie, Doug, Steve and Mike Pugh — thanked Dunbar for all his contributions: “Korey’s efforts helped the organization make significant progress over the past several years and we wish him and his family nothing but the best going forward.”

With Marsh, the ZooKeepers should have a smooth transition in the front office. Marsh worked under Dunbar for three seasons and he said he’s looking forward to the job, although it came as a surprise.

“It was a complete surprise,” said Marsh, who has coached and been in administrative positions at Barton College in Wilson, NC, Andrew College in Georgia, NC Wesleyan in Rocky Mount and UNCG. “I was told Korey is leaving and a day later, walking into the office, the Pughs offered me the opportunity to be the next general manager of the Asheboro ZooKeepers.

 “It was something I was definitely interested in, but I was shocked. I have been around Korey a lot and I wish him the best and I know the ZooKeepers’ organization wishes him the best.”

Marsh said he intends to stay on course, working on the model he and Dunbar put into place. He said his goals continue to be having success on the field, success in the community and success from a financial standpoint.

“I don’t think there is anything that I will be doing that I haven’t done before,” Marsh said. “It is a huge advantage to me as a general manager having been the assistant general manager in the same organization. Knowing and seeing the way things worked. I have worked hand in hand with Korey. Everything we did, we really talked about.”

Prior to the ZooKeepers, Marsh had experience with the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley League and spent one season as pitching coach of the Martinsville Mustangs of the CPL.

Marsh said he will continue to preside over the Fall Baseball League at McCrary Park, assuring everything “stays sound,” as well as beginning to help fill next season’s roster as well as building relationships with the community and the sponsors.