John Mallee

BY GORDON WITTENMYER Staff Reporter October 9, 2014

The Cubs didn’t have to go far to find their next hitting coach. They hired Mount Carmel High School grad John Mallee from the Astros’ staff this week to replace Bill Mueller.

They also hired former Cubs outfielder Doug Dascenzo as first-base and outfield coach, shifting first-base coach Eric Hinske to assistant hitting coach, to complete their 2015 coaching staff.

Mallee, 45, who had a lengthy interview for the Cubs’ job a year ago, spent the last two seasons as hitting coach for the young, rebuilding Astros after spending 2010-11 as the Marlins hitting coach.

“Being a Cubs fan all my life, it’s a dream come true, obviously,” said Mallee, who actually spent a few days as the Cubs’ minor-league hitting coordinator two years ago before being allowed to interview for the Astros’ big-league job.

He called leaving that job with those young hitters especially tough, but he’s looking forward to coming home.

“It’s amazing being able to come back to Chicago and be part of this tradition and do anything I can to help them to a championship,” he said. “To be able to do that in my home town is surreal.”

Mallee, a former UIC player and infielder in the Phillies’ system who still makes his home in the Chicago area, becomes the Cubs’ fourth hitting coach in four years.

Despite the apparent lingering state of flux with the Cubs’ hitting program, Mallee’s hiring brings some continuity to the organization. He spent time on the Marlins’ staff with Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde and spent seven years in the Marlins’ system with Cubs’ minor-league field/catching coordinator Tim Cossins.

When Mallee left his short-lived hitting-coordinator job with the Cubs two years ago, the Cubs hired Anthony Iapoce — one of Mallee’s closest colleagues for nearly 20 years — on his recommendation.

“He’s put together an amazing program in the system,” Mallee said of Iapoce. “He’s one of the best hitting guys I’ve ever been around. To be reunited with him and have all this start from rookie ball to the big leagues with the same message, it’s incredible.