Listach named to Cubs coaching staff

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Tennessee Smokies field manager Pat Listach was named by the Chicago Cubs today as the bench coach for the 2011 season. Listach, who joins Chicago after two seasons as the third base coach for the Washington Nationals, will also serve as Chicago's infield coach.

While with Tennessee in 2007, Listach led the Smokies to a 73-65 overall record and a Wild Card playoff berth in the Southern League North Division Series. Tennessee would lose a best-of-5 series against the Huntsville Stars, three games to two. Listach led the Smokies to the top of the league in many offensive categories that year: batting average (.271), hits (1,270), runs (636) and a league-low 879 strikeouts.

2011 will mark Listach's 12th season in professional coaching. Prior to joining the Nationals, he served nine seasons as a Minor League coach or manager in the Cubs organization. As a player, Listach spent six seasons as an infielder with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-96) and Houston Astros (1997), and was the 1992 American League Rookie of the Year.

About the Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are the Minor League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the 10-team Double-A Southern League. Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for nearly 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, please visit www.smokiesbaseball.comonline.