Madison Night Mares Hired Ashley Kouba as General Manager

The team appointed Ashley Kouba to the role as its first dedicated full-time employee.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Baseball

Madison Night Mares Hired Ashley Kouba as General Manager

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The Madison Night Mares have named Ashley Kouba as the team's first dedicated full-time general manager. To facilitate the new hire, the organization promoted Samantha Rubin to vice president of both the Night Mares and the Madison Mallards.

Why it matters

The appointment marks a significant operational expansion for the Night Mares as the organization formalizes its leadership structure. This strategic shift aims to build stability for the franchise as it prepares for future seasons.

Ashley Kouba returns to the city after previously working in Madison for 4 seasons from 2022 to 2025. Her professional background includes serving as the Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Tampa Bay Rays' Single-A affiliate in 2026.

The players

Ashley Kouba

She is the newly appointed general manager and first full-time employee of the Madison Night Mares.

Samantha Rubin

She has been promoted to vice president of the Madison Night Mares and the Madison Mallards.

Madison Night Mares

This is a professional baseball organization based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Madison Mallards

This is a baseball team based in Madison that shares vice-presidential leadership with the Night Mares.

The details

Ashley Kouba assumes her new responsibilities immediately, bringing experience from her previous work with the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate. Samantha Rubin will expand her executive oversight to include both the Night Mares and the Madison Mallards.

Ashley Kouba worked in Madison from 2022 to 2025.
Ashley Kouba worked for the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate in 2026.
The team will announce its 2027 schedule at a later date.

Season Trajectory

This management shift aligns with a broader industry trend toward professionalizing administrative staffing within independent and collegiate-affiliated baseball. By securing dedicated full-time leadership, the franchise aims to strengthen its competitive standing and operational consistency for the 2027 season.

Fans and stakeholders should expect a clarified organizational structure as the team prepares to release its 2027 schedule. The appointment of a full-time general manager signals a focus on long-term operations that may influence future team branding and ticket availability.

The takeaway

The appointment of a full-time general manager indicates that the Madison Night Mares are moving toward a more structured administrative model. This evolution suggests that the team is prioritizing long-term front-office stability over previous seasonal staffing arrangements.