The Colorado Rockies have finalized their 2026 Major League coaching staff, naming Doug Bernier first base coach. He will also oversee outfield defense and baserunning.
Bernier, 45, spent the 2024-25 seasons as the Rockies Minor League field coordinator after two seasons as the club’s defensive coordinator overseeing infield and outfield instruction. The Santa Maria, Calif. native served as the Major League data and game planning coordinator 2020-21, working with the research and development team, coaches and players to aggregate and interpret data. Prior to 2020, Bernier served two seasons as a professional scout for the Rockies from 2018-19. Bernier was originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent in 2002, making his Major League debut with the Rockies in 2008 and went on to spend parts of the 2013-15 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins. In total, Bernier’s playing career spanned 16 professional seasons, playing for the Rockies, Yankees, Pirates, Twins and Rangers organizations.
Manager Warren Schaeffer’s field staff is now complete for the 2026 season. Schaeffer, 40, was named the Rockies full-time manager in November after serving as the club’s interim manager since May 22, 2025. He has been a member of the Rockies organization for over a decade, serving in a variety of coaching and player development roles. Prior to his appointment as interim manager, he was the team’s third base and infield coach beginning in 2023.
Bench Coach Jeff Pickler joined the Rockies staff in December after spending six seasons in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He most recently served as the Reds’ bench coach and Major League game planning and infield coach in 2024 after holding roles as the game planning & outfield coach from 2019–22 and game planning and infield coach in 2023.
Assistant Bench Coach Ron Gideon will transition from first base coach to the newly created role for the 2026 season. Gideon has spent the last 30 seasons in the Rockies organization, including the last nine on the Major League staff. He initially joined the Major League staff as a coach in 2017 before being named first base coach prior to the 2019 season.
Third Case Coach Andy González began the 2025 season as the club’s assistant hitting coach, his fourth season in that role, before transitioning to third base and infield coach midway through the season. He has spent the last 11 seasons in the Rockies organization.
Hitting Coach Brett Pill joined the Rockies after six seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, most recently serving as the Minor League hitting coordinator from 2023–25 following three seasons (2020–22) as a Minor League hitting coach. Prior to his time with the Dodgers, he spent three seasons (2017–19) as an international scout for the Kia Tigers of the KBO.
Assistant Hitting Coach Jordan Pacheco joined the Rockies’ Major League coaching staff in May of last season after beginning the season as Triple-A Albuquerque’s hitting coach, his fourth season in that role. Pacheco joined the Rockies organization in 2022 following a 14-year professional playing career that included Major League stints with Colorado (2011-14), Arizona (2014-15) and Cincinnati (2016).
Pitching Coach Alon Leichman joined the Rockies from the Miami Marlins where he spent the 2025 season as the assistant pitching coach and assistant pitching director after spending two years with the Cincinnati Reds (2023-24) in the same role. Prior to his time with Cincinnati, Leichman spent six years in the Seattle Mariners’ organization as a pitching coach at various levels after he was initially hired as coordinator of organizational learning in 2017.
Assistant Pitching Coach Gabe Ribas has spent the past five seasons as the Detroit Tigers director of pitching after initially being hired in 2021. Prior to his time in Detroit, he spent four seasons as a pitching coordinator in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.
Bullpen Coach Matt Buschmann has spent the past two seasons as a special advisor of player development in the Chicago Cubs system. Prior to his time in Chicago, he served as the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen coach from 2019-22.
Bullpen catchers Kyle Cunningham and Chris Rabago will also return to the Rockies 2026 staff.