The St. Louis Cardinals, based in St. Louis, Missouri, are a professional baseball franchise that compete in the National League of Major League Baseball (MLB). The club employs coaches who support – and report directly to – the manager. Coaches for various aspects of the game, including pitching, hitting, baserunning and fielding, give instruction to players to assist them in exercising the major disciplines that must be successfully executed to compete at the highest level. These specialized roles are a relatively new development, as coaches initially did not have specific roles and instead had titles such as "first assistant", "second assistant", etc. St. Louis Cardinals coaches have played an important role in the team's eleven World Series titles. Many are retired players who at one time played for the team. Coaching is often part of the path for Major League managerial hopefuls, as a coach's previous experiences typically include managing and/or coaching at the minor league level. Charley O'Leary and Heinie Peitz, both former Cardinals players, became the first coaches the Cardinals employed as positions separate from the manager in 1913.
The longest-tenured coach in Cardinals' franchise history is Red Schoendienst, who has filled a variety of roles for the St. Louis Cardinals. First, he played 15 seasons as a second baseman for the Cardinals before becoming an on-field coach in 1962 in his penultimate season as an active player. He continued to coach through 1964, and the next season, became the Cardinals' manager. Returning as an on-field coach for the Cardinals in 1979, Schoendienst remained in that capacity until 1995. From 1996 until his death in 2018, he served as a special assistant to the general manager as a coaching advisor. In all, Schoendienst coached for St. Louis for 38 total seasons. He has also worn a St. Louis Major League uniform in eight different decades, won four World Series titles as part of on-field personnel and two more World Series titles since moving into his role as an advisor.
The current longest-tenured coach through 2015 is third-base coach José Oquendo, who has been coaching for the Cardinals since 1999. The latest addition is assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller, who was hired before the 2015 season. The longest-tenured on-field coach in franchise history is Buzzy Wares; he is also the only coach for the Cardinals with a consecutive on-field season streak of 20 or more seasons with 23. Schoendienst is the only other with 20 or more total seasons; he also had a streak of 17 consecutive seasons. Dave Duncan and Dave McKay are both tied for third with 16 total seasons and both with a streak of 16 consecutive seasons. Jose Oquendo is also tied with Duncan and McKay with 16 years during the 2015 season as it marks his 16 consecutive season as an on field coach. Others with ten or more seasons include Mike González, Johnny Lewis, Marty Mason, Gaylen Pitts and Dave Ricketts. Dal Maxvill is the only former Cardinals coach to have become a general manager for the Cardinals. Ray Blades, Ken Boyer, González, Johnny Keane, Jack Krol, Marty Marion, Bill McKechnie, Schoendienst and Harry Walker have all also managed the Cardinals. Cardinals coaches who have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum include Bob Gibson, McKechnie, Dave Parker and Schoendienst. George Kissell so important that the Cardinals have an award named after him. Kissell managed in the Cardinal farm system through 1957, scouted for them in 1958–62, then returned to the field as a minor league manager in 1963–67. In 1968, he spent his first season as a roving instructor in the Cardinal system, where his efforts led to the nickname of "the Professor", and his influence is generally regarded as being a major basis for what came to be known as the "Cardinal Way". He mentored a number of major league managers, including Sparky Anderson, Joe Torre, and Tony LaRussa.
Current coaching staff
Manager: Oliver Marmol (2017–present) Bench: Daniel Descalso (2024–present) Hitting: Brant Brown (2025–present) Assistant hitting: Brandon Allen (2023–present) Assistant hitting: Casey Chenoweth (2026–present) Pitching: Dusty Blake (2021–present) Assistant pitching: Kyle Driscoll (2026–present) Assistant pitching/Bullpen: Julio Rangel (2023–present) First base: Stubby Clapp (2019–present) Third base: Ron 'Pop' Warner (2017–present) Outfield/Baserunning/Quality control: Jon Jay (2025–present) Assistant/Bullpen: Jamie Pogue (2012–present)
Lists of coaches +Key # Ordinal number in the succession of coaches Prior role, other notes: Previous Cardinal coaching assignment or assignment in another organization: M (Manager), BN (Bench coach), PT (Pitching), BP (Bullpen), H (Hitting), AH (Assistant hitting), 1BC (First base), 3BC (Third base), QC (Quality Control), SA (Special assistant), MI (Coached or managed in minor leagues) Ref Reference(s) Roles Also a player (*), manager (M), or executive (E) for the Cardinals Awards Former Gold Glove (G), Silver Slugger (S), Cy Young (C) or MVP (V) Award winner ∂ Former MLB All-Star (1933–present only)§ Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Cardinal†, ‡ Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame primarily as a player (†) or as a manager and/or an executive (‡)
Bench coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref M∂†§ 1984–1995 MI (1983–88) 1996 Vars. coaching pos, Colorado Rockies (1993–95) S∂ 1997–98 BN (Oakland Athletics, 1994–95) 1999 MI (1998) 2000–01 2002–11 MI (1989–2001) 2012–14 AH (2008–11) 2015–17 AH (2014) 2018 3BC (2017) 2018 SA (2017) 2019–21 1BC (2017–18) 2022 SA (San Diego Padres, 2020–21) 2023 3BC/BN (Chicago White Sox, 2012–2022) 2024–present E (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2023)
Hitting coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 1984–89 1990 1991 MI (1980–90) SV∂ 1992 G∂ 1993–95 S∂ 1996–97 MI (1993–95) GSV∂† 1998 Coach, Anaheim Angels (1997) ∂ 1999–2001 H (Boston Red Sox, 1993–94) 2002–04 MI (1997–2001) S∂ 2005–09 Special assistant to GM, Tampa Bay Devil Rays GS∂ 2010–12 Major League player (1986–2001) 2013–18 AH (2012) 2018 2019–22 AH (Houston Astros, 2018) 2023–24 AH (2022) 2025–present BN (Seattle Mariners, 2024)
Assistant hitting coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 2008–11 H (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2005–06) 2012 G 2013 Major League player (1998–2010) 2014 3BC (Chicago Cubs, 2013) S 2015, 2017–18 H (Chicago Cubs, 2014) 2016 MI (2005–16) 2018 MI (2015–18) 2019 H (2018) 2019–21 MI (2007–19) 2022 H (Cincinnati Reds, 2019) 2023–present MI (2017–22) 2023 MI (2020–22) 2026–present MI (2023–25)
Pitching coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 1984–90 ∂ 1991–94 BP (California Angels, 1987–90) 1995 MI (1979–94) ∂ 1996–2011 PT (Oakland Athletics, 1987–95) 2012–17 BP (2011) 2018–22 PT (Washington Nationals, 2016–17) 2023–present SA (2021–22)
Bullpen coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 1984–91 1992–94 H (1991) GCV∂†§ 1995 1996–99 MI (1986–95) 2000–10 MI (1986–99) 2011 MI (2002–10) 2012 MI (1985–86; 1996–2011) 2013–17 MI (2008–12) 2018–22 PT (AAA-Memphis, 2013–17) 2023–present PT (Texas Rangers, 2019–20) 2023–present BC (2012–23)
Assistant pitching coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 2023–present PT (Texas Rangers, 2019–20) 2024–25 MI (2020–23) 2026–present MI (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2024–25)
First base coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 1984–85 MI (1978–83) 1986–88 MI (1982–85) 1989–90 1991–93 Major League player (1975–90) 1994–95 1996–2011 1BC (Oakland Athletics, 1989–95) 2012–15 MI (1991–96; 1998–2001; 2005–11) 2016 AH (2015) 2017–18 MI (2011–16) 2019–present MI (2017–18)
Third base coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 1984–85 1986–88 1BC (1984–85) 1989–90 1BC (1986–88) ∂ 1991–94 M (New York Yankees, 1989–90) 1995 1996 1997–99 M (Florida Marlins, 1993–96) 2000–15, 2018, 2020 BN (1999) 2016–17 1BC (2012–15) 2017 QC; MI Cardinals' farm system 8 yrs, (2009–16) 2019–present BN (2018)
Bullpen catchers # Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 2012–23 2025–present MI (2006–14)
Assistant coaches
# Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref 2009–17 Assistant for player development; MI (2008) 2017 MI (2001–17) G, S, MVP ∂ 2018–24 Assistant to GM John Mozeliak (2013–17) 2020–25 Scout (2015–19) 2020 MI (2013–19) 2020 MI (2019) 2021–22 2025–present 1BC (Miami Marlins, 2023–24)
Unspecified roles Coach Seasons Prior role, other notes: Ref * 1913–17 MI (1912) * 1913 Coach (Cincinnati Reds, 1912) 1920 MI (1903–18) * 1921–25 Major League player (1893–1912) 1922 MI (1922) * 1923–25 Major League player (1909–23) 1924 MI (1913–16) 1926 M (Chicago Cubs, 1921–25) * 1926–27 Coach (Detroit Tigers, 1925) M‡ 1927 M (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1922–26) * 1927–28 Major League player (1914–26) 1928 Coach (Washington Senators, 1927) 1929 MI (1927–28) *M 1930–32, 1951 Broeg 1998: 276 1930–52 *M 1934–46 MI (1933) 1946–50 MI (1941–42) *∂ 1949–52, 1956–58 Major League player (1935–48) *MV∂ 1950 Major League player (1940–50) * 1951–55 MI (1925–50) 1952–55 Coach (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1948–50) ∂ 1953, 1955 MI (1950–53, 1954–55) 1954–55 MI (1936–53) 1954–57 1BC (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1949–53) *∂ 1956 MI (1955) *∂ 1957 Major League player (1940–57) 1957–58 MI (1948–53) * 1959–61 Major league player (1952–59) M 1959–61 MI (1930–58) *M∂ 1959–62 MI (1956–58) *∂ 1959–64 Major League player (1941–56) * 1960–61 Major league player (1952–60) *M∂†§ 1962–65, 1979–95 Major League player (1945–63), coach (Oakland Athletics, 1977–78) *∂ 1962 Major League player (1959–61) , Jr. 1963–68 MI (1958–62) Broeg 1998: 278 * 1964–65, 1970–75 MI (1956–61) 1965–70, 1976 Major league player (1953–54) ∂ 1965 H (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1964) *∂ 1966–70 M (Cincinnati Reds, 1964–65) * 1967–70 Major league player (1957–62) * 1970 MI (1963–69) *MGV∂ 1971–72 MI (1970) * 1971–75 Major League Player (1955–65) ∂ 1972, 1983 MI (1970, 1974) * 1973–76, 1984–89 Major League player (1964–67) * 1974–75, 1978–91 BP (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1970–73); MI (1976–77) 1975 1976 MI (1951–72) 1976 M (Houston Astros, 1974–75) M 1977–80 MI (1954–76) 1977–78 Minor leagues (1946–58) *∂ 1977–80 Major League player (1957–75) 1977–78 Minor leagues (1964–76) *EG 1979–80 Coach (New York Mets, 1978) Broeg 1998: 277 1981–82 Coach (Kansas City Royals, 1976–79) 1981–85 MI (1977–80) 1982 1984–90 PT (Chicago Cubs, 1976–80) *∂ 1983 Major League player (1965–80) * 1990 1991–95 MI (1964–90) 1993 1996 3BC (Oakland Athletics, 1989–95) S∂ 1997 Coach (Oakland Athletics, 1994–95)
Related lists St. Louis Cardinals all-time roster List of St. Louis Cardinals owners and executives List of St. Louis Cardinals managers List of St. Louis Cardinals seasons
See also St. Louis Cardinals Manager and Coaches Coach (baseball)
References
Source notes
Bibliography