Craig Counsell, Pat Murphy Set To Coach Together Again Next Season

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy have known each other for a long time. 

Their relationship goes all the way back to the 1980s. Counsell was a young college kid, while Murphy was Notre Dame's head baseball coach. Counsell committed to play college baseball at the University of Notre Dame and was coached by Murphy. 

Counsell played for Notre Dame from 1989 to 1992 before being drafted in the 11th round of the 1992 MLB Draft. Much of Counsell’s growth as a player likely came from Murphy's guidance, and that was really the start of a strong relationship. 

Fast forward almost three decades later, and the two were on the same team again.

After Counsell’s playing career ended, he stayed involved in the Brewers organization. He was the special assistant to general manager Doug Melvin. He served in that role for three years and was eventually named manager in May 2015, when Ron Roenicke was fired mid-season. 

Counsell served as the Brewers manager for the rest of that season and then made some significant coaching changes the following season in his first full year in that role. His first move was hiring Murphy, who spent the 2015 season as the San Diego Padres interim manager, as the team’s bench coach. 

Counsell and Murphy then spent eight seasons working together in Milwaukee. Counsell was the manager, and Murphy was the bench coach. Counsell eventually left after the 2023 season to take the Cubs job, and the Brewers promoted Murphy to manager. 

Counsell and Murphy have a close relationship and have known each other since the late 1980’s. While it’s highly unlikely that the two friends will be part of the same organization again, they will get to coach together again. 

With the Brewers winning the National League pennant on Thursday night, Murphy automatically gets to manage the National League in next year’s All-Star game. Since that game will be played at Wrigley Field, Counsell is automatically on Murphy’s staff as an honorary coach. 

That means Counsell and Murphy will get to work together again at next year’s Midsummer Classic. This time, though, Murphy will be in charge, and Counsell will be part of his staff. Murphy will get Counsell's desk in the Cubs locker room and manage the National League. 

The All-Star Game is set to take place on July 13, 2027, at Wrigley Field. That’s if there is no lockout this offseason.