Veteran outfielder Coco Crisp has evidently decided upon a new career path. He has signed on to be the head coach at Shadow Hills High School in Indio, California, according to a report from Blake Arthur and Jesus Reyes of KESQ News.
The high school’s athletic director confirmed that an agreement is in place to bring aboard Crisp to run the school’s baseball program. Crisp’s connection to the school isn’t immediately apparent, but the report does note that the Los Angeles native has lived in the area — in the desert east of L.A. — for quite some time.
Last we checked in, Crisp was still holding out hope of finding a big league job for the current season. Clearly, that had not occurred. While there has yet to be any formal announcement regarding his playing future, the 37-year-old seems to be on the way to hanging up his spikes for good.
Crisp turned in an underwhelming 2016 season, slashing .231/.302/.397 over 498 plate appearances. He hit 13 home runs but stole just ten bags (well below his typical output), while defensive metrics graded him an acceptable performer in left but panned his glovework in center.
Still, Crisp was valued highly enough for the Indians to acquire and rely upon him rather heavily in the postseason. In 32 total plate appearances from the ALDS through the World Series, Crisp recorded seven hits (four for extra bases) and as many walks as strikeouts (three apiece).
Looking more broadly at Crisp’s 15-year career, he delivered plenty of value to the teams that employed him. He racked up 29.1 rWAR and 30.0 fWAR in over 1,500 games played, representing an excellent output for the $70MM+ salary he took home over that span. Crisp enjoyed notable runs with the Athletics, Indians, and Red Sox while also spending a somewhat less memorable year with the Royals back in 2009.
Good for him
Really good guy, great baseball mind. I wish him the best.
Good for him.
It’s always a great thing for those kids when a former pro in their respected sports does that.
Down in San Diego they have a former WNBA star coaching girls basketball in hs
I forget her first name but her dad was al Wiggins who was a speedster for the padres in the 80s
Candace Wiggins
Yeah!
I did not know that Alan Wiggins and Candace Wiggins were father/daughter. I remember watching Alan play for the Padres and later the Orioles. Very unfortunate what happened to him, he was a real talent who couldn’t get his off-field demons under control.
Welp…there goes one of the best names in sports. I wish him luck with his coaching career.
There goes both of them
The other was Milton Bradley
Lets hope no high school is dumb enough to allow Milton Bradley near children,
Milton Bradley? Weren’t they a toy maker in the 70’s and 80’s?
This has all the makings of a “gets on the mound and starts throwing a knuckler” story, but poor Coco’s arm is one of the worst of all time. Great reads and range in CF to make up for it though. Weird but cool guy (remember his craigslist posting?). Wish him the best!
No, no it doesn’t. It has the story of, “he’s coaching a high school team because of his kids or because he wants to start at the bottom and work his way up in coaching.” Not everyone who coaches high school baseball after they are done turns into a knuckleball pitcher. Just knucklehead comments by knuckleheads like you.
That fellow was a great ballplayer. Hated when he played against the Orioles in Camden Yards.
Good luck to you in your next endeavor. He will probably wind up as a very successful Coach and Manager.
He helped coach my son’s 6u team a year ago. He is one of the most humble and amazingly pro athletes I have met outside of a stadium. Will be cool to see him on a more regular basis. Too bad he is coaching for my rival high school!
That’s great! I just hope he doesn’t teach his batting stance to them. Nothing wrong with it, but enberg pointed it out. When he batted right… he tucked his head, but he did this crazy owl thing that freaked me out
Shame he didn’t get his ring last year, but playing on a team take the series to 7… is a good way to go out if not winning
Many players end their careers and have nothing to do. Yeah, they may have a fortune, and a family, but what else?
It’s great that he found something to be passionate about.
I’m a high school teacher. I’m guessing that if he’s signing on now, this is a full time job, not just some special instructor show up when you want type gig.
I’m surprised the A’s didn’t waste a big contract on him like they did with Rajai Davis this year. Seems like they’re kind of move
I’d attend high school again just for the chance to say “Good afternoon, Coach Crisp!”
I will never forget an intentional and mean-spirited HBP and Coco charged the Tampa pitcher while in Boston. Crisp never looked back to his dugout for back-up, he just went after the bastard who’d plunked him. He played fearless and always gave his all. Good luck, Coach Crisp, those young players are very lucky indeed.
I think he charged james shields
Hated him as a Red Sox, but this is a class move
Lucky school. All the best to Coco.
Congrats CoCo and thanks for a wonderful career. You got to do what most only dream about. BTW I loved your dad’s hamburger joints in L.A.
Still confused as why the jays didn’t try to sign him, even if that means he struggles and goes down to AAA they signed Saunders but not crisp? A guy who would fit perfectly in that left field option for the jays, I don’t know sometimes I question Shapiro and Atkins
Gee I’m getting old. I remember when the Cardinals traded him for Finley.
His COBRA duration expired, and confronted with the cost of healthcare through the Exchange Marketplace, he decided to pick up a part time job.