Padres Re-Hire Entire Coaching Staff

The Padres announced the re-hiring Tuesday of its entire coaching staff, including third-base coach Ozzie Virgil, whose firing in November led to speculation that manager Dick Williams would leave the team.

Padres spokesman Bill Beck said the only change in the coaching staff is the assignment of Harry Dunlop to serve as a roving instructor for the Padres’ minor league teams. Dunlop has been the team’s bullpen coach for the past two seasons.

First-base coach Jack Krol was hired for his sixth season with the Padres, and Deacon Jones will enter his third year as the team’s hitting instructor. Galen Cisco will serve as pitching coach for the second year, and Virgil was hired as third-base coach for his fifth season.

Virgil was fired from the Padres in November and said at the time he believed they fired him in an effort to get his longtime friend Williams to quit.

Virgil’s firing led to speculation that Williams would not return to fulfill the final year of his contract with the Padres and would instead let the team buy out the contract.

Williams has since agreed to return to the Padres with no assurances that his contract will be extended after 1986.

Beck said the assignment of Dunlop to the minor leagues means the Padres will be working with four instead of five coaches, but he said there are no plans to hire another coach.