Press Release: New Mets Coach

Mets Name Dave Jauss Bench Coach and Chip Hale Third Base Coach




Terry Collins Named Minor League Field Coordinator



FLUSHING, N.Y., November 24, 2009 – The New York Mets today announced they have completed their 2010 major league coaching staff by naming Dave Jauss bench coach and Chip Hale third base coach. Razor Shines, the third base coach in 2009, moves to first base. Howard Johnson (hitting), Dan Warthen (pitching) and Randy Niemann (bullpen) return to their same roles on Manager Jerry Manuel’s staff.



The Mets also named Terry Collins, who is in his 40th season in professional baseball, the team’s Minor League Field Coordinator.



“Jerry and I both thought it was crucial that we explore changes to the staff to help us achieve our goal next year of returning a championship-caliber team to the field,” said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya.



Jauss, 52, spent the last two years as the bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles. In 2006-2007, he held the same position with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent 10 years with the Boston Red Sox as a coach, scout and administrator. Jauss was the first base coach from 1997-1999 with Boston and he was an advance scout with the Red Sox in 2004 when they won the World Series.



Manuel and Jauss worked together in the Montreal Expos organization from 1988-1989 when Jauss was a minor league manager and Manuel was the Minor League Field Coordinator.



Jauss graduated from Amherst College with a B.A. degree in psychology and has a Master’s degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts.



Hale, 44, was the third base/infield coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks the past three years. An infielder, Hale spent portions of seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1989-1997. He posted a career .277 batting average in 333 games.



Hale compiled a 392-305 record (.562 winning percentage) in six seasons as a minor league manager for Arizona. In 1986, Hale hit .345 to help the University of Arizona capture the College World Series title.



“Innovative and creative are two words that I would use to describe both Dave and Chip,” said Manuel. “That’s what impressed me during the interview process with each of them. Dave was schooled under Felipe Alou in Montreal, and Felipe always stressed speed and the running game. Dave will be an exceptional resource.



“Chip learned from Tom Kelly in Minnesota where everything is about fundamentals, fundamentals and fundamentals,” added Manuel. “The third base coach is such a critical position and we think it’s a great plus that he comes to us with a ready-made knowledge of the National League.”



Collins, 60, who managed the Houston Astros from 1994-1996 and the Anaheim Angels from 1997-1999, will oversee all on-field aspects of the Mets Minor League Spring Training, Mini-Camps and Instructional League. In addition, he will be involved in all phases of minor league on-field operations, including instruction, discipline as well as player and staff evaluations.



Collins compiled a 444-434 record as a manger (.506 winning percentage). This year, he managed Team China in the World Baseball Classic and won the country’s first game in WBC history. He directed the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods Summer League in 2009.



In 2007 and 2008, he was the manager of the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Professional League.



During his career, Collins also was the bullpen coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992-1993), an advance scout with the Chicago Cubs (2000), a bullpen coach and third base coach with the Tampa Bay Rays (2001), a Field Coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-2004) and the Director of Player Development for the Dodgers (2005-2006).



He was an infielder for 10 seasons in the minor leagues with the Pirates (1971-1975) and the Dodgers (1975-1980) before beginning a 10-year career as a minor league manager in 1981.