Milwaukee Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell will finally get his old college coach in the dugout.
The San Diego Union-Tribune says former Padres’ interim manager Pat Murphy will become the Brewers’ new bench coach.
Counsell wanted to bring in the 56-year-old Murphy last May, soon after Counsell replaced the fired Ron Roenicke. Murphy was San Diego’s Triple-A manager at the time. The Padres refused to let him go, and he became the club’s interim manager in mid-June after Bud Black was fired.
Murphy was removed at the end of the season after he led San Diego to a 42-54 record.
In Milwaukee, Murphy replaces Jerry Narron, one of five Brewers’ coaches terminated after the season.
Murphy coached Counsell at Notre Dame in the 1990’s, and the two have been good friends ever since.
Last week, the Brewers reportedly hired Derek Johnson from the Cubs’ organization as their new pitching coach. The Brewers have not announced the new hires. It’s possible they’ll announce all five newcomers at the same time.