Filling out Kurt Suzuki’s Coaching Staff
November 3, 2025 - Written by Jacob Firmage
Day 1 ☑️ pic.twitter.com/gremAZw9BX
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) October 23, 2025
As the season is officially over, we should get news on teams coaching staff and remaining front office decisions in short order. The General Manager meetings kick off a week from tomorrow and I expect most, if not all of the main spots remaining to be filled by the time Perry gets to Las Vegas. Now, I don’t expect Arte to greenlight a high-priced coaching staff all on the same level as Mike Maddux was for pitching, but there are still some targets who could fill out Kurt’s staff quite well. To guess on each assistant coach would prove likely to be a difficult task as that may be more at the discretion of say a Mike Maddux. So, we will go more in depth on the following: 1B and 3B coaches, hitting coach, bench coach to start as well as one retention from the Ron Washington staff to wrap it up. Lastly, we will give just a random pick at each of the assistant positions for fun.
Hitting Coach
When the Angels brought on both Johnny Washington and Tim Laker at the start of Washington’s run as manager, there was some optimism. Washington had just helped the Cubs get a great comeback year out of Bellinger along with a few other Cubs players who had quality years. Tim Laker had long been around the Dodgers, who have been consistently great at most everything they do. But it has been lackluster over the past handful of years and 2025 had a team that swung and missed more than acceptable for what was said to be a playoff hopeful by management. Who are some names that may fit?
My personal favorite is Dustin Lind. After being the “director of hitting” and assistant hitting coach in San Francisco before heading to the Phillies as their assistant hitting coach. A goal of the Phillies was to reduce their chase rate. He was a big part of changing their cage work, at bat reviews as well as leading post-game meetings per Alex Coffey of the Philly Inquirer. With the Giants SF chase rates dropped just under 7% in three seasons. While the rate only dropped 1% in his couple of years in Philly, he could do wonders for a team like the Angels whose Achillies heel is the swing and miss.
Joel McKeithan may not jump out at fans due to his work as assistant hitting coach of the White Sox, players like Brandon Drury credited him with their turnaround from his time in Cincinnati. He would likely be a more affordable option due to being a little bit of an unknown, but already a candidate in Chicago to take over the lead as hitting coach, maybe Kurt looks at him.
Should Arte be willing to continue spending, wanting to brain-drain the Rangers even further, he could look to a former Salt Lake Bees hitting coach in Donnie Ecker. Ecker has bounced around a bit, from Salt Lake, to the Reds where he was their assistant hitting coach, then to then to the Giants before settling in a bench coach and offensive coordinator role for a few years and last season spent the first half as their hitting coordinator before being let go mid-year as the offense struggled mightily in Texas. He had up and down run in Texas, but a return to Anaheim may be in the cards. Let’s note that he could potentially be an option for the next category, but we will leave him in just this spot for now.
Bench Coach
Bench coach has primarily been filled by former interim manager Ray Montgomery, but Ryan Goins also held the title shortly this season. With neither of these coaches necessarily likely to return in 2026 let’s look at who could be first time manager, Kurt Suzuki’s, right hand man.
A.J. Ellis carved out quite a career spanning roughly a decade for a few teams including the Dodgers, Phillies and Padres. He was known as a mentor and worked with younger catchers on their approach, and has also worked with players at the Draft Combine. Shortly after retiring Preller made a smart decision to keep him in the Padres organization as a special assistant that allows him to work amongst the affiliates. This is a similar role to Kurt Suzuki with the Angels and would allow Kurt to focus on the managing while entrusting Ellis to work with O’Hoppe daily.
Davey Martinez was at one point Kurt Suzuki’s manager. Now ‘Zuk could lean on his former manager to help him right the ship for the Angels. Known for strong player relationships, he could be a trusted option for Kurt and instead as Kurt learns the best ways to manage a club throughout the course of a year. Martinez, while the longest tenured Nationals manage, did have his own set of struggles when it came to fans opinions on some of his managerial decision making, but I would tend to think this could be Kurt’s first choice.
Bud Black was a name some fans may have been dreading. Arte wanting to bring back someone from the 2002 World Series coaching staff was a possibility. For all of his downside, Bud does have an abundance of coaching experience that could lend a helping hand to Kurt, while also appeasing Arte. I personally think this would be a step in the wrong direction, but he likely gets a thought at least during the process.
Chad Tracy has been managing the Red Sox Triple-A club recently, and boy have they turned out some talent in which he has gotten his hands on. For a team, young as the Angels, adding a strong developer of talent to assist Kurt, while also having managerial experience, albeit in Triple-A, he could be a complementary piece to Kurt.
1B Coach
Sam Blum of The Athletic has put it out there that Eric Young Sr. will not return in 2026. He was one of a couple coaches I would have liked to see return, but now that the Angels will look for a new option, who could take his spot.
Howie Kendrick is a former All-Star for the Angels. HK47 was a fan favorite and has been doing work as a special assistant in the Phillies front office. In the playoffs he was in the dugout and got me wondering if he would consider returning to Anaheim, far away from his home in Florida to join a coaching staff. Consider this a long shot, but fun one to consider.
Gregorio Petit hung around big-league clubs for a decade and even in his time with the Angels seemed to be a well-liked veteran. In his time since retiring he has managed three different levels of minor league ball. While it would be losing the title of manager, he would be getting experience on a major league staff, potentially surrounded by a quality group. He would likely be one of the Angels infield coaches as well as some of his time in Oakland overlapping with Angels manager Kurt Suzuki.
Hank Conger was a magnetic personality. I am not sure I ever heard or read something negative about him. While he didn’t pan out to first round expectations, he has been a catching coach/1B coach in both Japan and for the Twins. Though born in Washington, the former Angels and Huntington Beach raised Hank could welcome a return back home. He could also be a fit as 3B coach.
3B Coach
Per Beyond the Halo, Bo Porter will not return to be the Angels 3B coach in 2026. I’m not sure this is a huge surprise. But with 3B, I think the Angels could look at two names in particular at this time in addition to one of my bench coach options in Chad Tracy.
Collin Cowgill has been coaching with the reds as well as managing in the Double-A level at one point. Again, a former Angel, has been a strong developer and has the outfield history to assist in coaching in that aspect. A decent baserunner, he could be a baserunning coach as well. There is upside here and a reason the Reds have kept him around the way they have.
Gerardo Parra was an incredible fielder for a period of time as well as a good baserunner. He has a two-year coach with the Nats, he is also a former teammate of Kurt and would likely have a good relationship with his former teammate. In addition to that this is another candidate with experience to keep an eye on.
Additional Names to Watch
Assistant pitching coach: Sean Doolittle the former A’s closer and division rival, had a quality career and has some experience as a pitching strategist with Washington. Again, a World Series teammate of Kurt, I’d love to see him learn under Maddux for the Angels.
Hitting Coach or Assistant hitting coach: Brandon Allen someone who could be considered in the main job of hitting coach, I think Angels would still like to go with a different name, he could be a great get in a supplementary role.
Kevin Kouzmanoff is currently a Triple-A coach with the A’s. Former teammate of Kurt and potential big league hitting coach at some point. An interesting name to watch.
It will be interesting to see what money Perry and Kurt still have for the rest of the coaching staff and how they fill out. I’d think at least 1-2 of these guys are on the staff in 2026, but watch me miss on all of them.
Current Prediction
- Manager: Kurt Suzuki
- Bench Coach: A.J. Ellis
- Pitching Coach: Mike Maddux
- Assistant Pitching Coach: Sean Doolittle
- Hitting Coach: Dustin Lind
- Assistant Hitting Coach: Kevin Kouzmanoff
- 1B Coach: Gregorio Petit
- 3B Coach: Hank Conger
- Catching Specialist / Game Planner: Sal Fasano is the only coach retained in my opinion as he was brought on from the Braves and seemingly along with d’Arnaud.
Disclaimer : (1) All photos are not owned by InsideHalos and have been given proper credit beneath each photo. (2) Links of players are property of MLB, MiLB, and Baseball Reference. (3) InsideHalos is a fan-made site not affiliated with Angels Baseball.
