Phillies: Chris Coste named interim manager of former team
By Matt Rappa
Former Phillies catcher Chris Coste is set to become a skipper
As you may remember, 2008 Philadelphia Phillies World Series champion backup catcher Chris Coste had no easy path to the major leagues before finally debuting at age 33 in late-May 2006.
Before even joining a Major League team’s minor-league system, Coste’s first five professional years out of college were spent in the independent league, the latter four of which with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (1996-99).
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Just under one decade following his short-lived, yet memorable four-season MLB career with the Phillies and Houston Astros, Coste returned to the RedHawks as hitting coach ahead of the 2018 season and has served in the role since. On Tuesday, the Fargo, Nebraska, native will be named the RedHawks ‘ interim manager, according to ValleyNewsLive.com.
Coste is no stranger to the role; he has also served as manager of his alma mater Concordia College’s Division III baseball team since the summer of 2014 and in April 2019 earned his 100th career victory.
“The RedHawks have been a big part of my baseball career and I didn’t envision this situation happening, especially with everything else going on this year,” Coste told Valley News. “I look forward to the future of the organization, but more importantly, my goal is to ensure the current 2020 season is positive and successful, not only for the players and team on the field, but also for the entire organization, and most important, for baseball fans and the entire Fargo-Moorhead community.”
Coste’s team is preparing to play a shortened 2020 season with a six-team, three-city format; the RedHawks home opener is slated for July 3.
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The 47-year-old becomes the fourth RedHawks manager in as many seasons; he replaces the recently released and reigning American Association Manager of the Year Jim Bennett, 54, who went 63-37 with the team’s first playoff appearance since 2013.
RedHawks President/CEO Brad Thom thanked Bennett for his efforts last year, but that the two sides could not agree on the extent of his role for 2020. “Ultimately we had to go in another direction,” Thom says.
Coste will officially be introduced as interim manager with a press conference at Newman Outdoor Field on Tuesday, June 16.