APPLETON, Wis. -- Lawrence University pitching coach Chris Bosio is leaving the school to take a coaching position in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Bosio is the new pitching coach for the Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati's AA affiliate in the Southern League.
"I think the thing that was overwhelming for me was the conversations with the Reds front office people," Bosio said. "They came after me hard and said a lot of nice things. Anybody in any kind of job wants people to think highly of them and being pursued feels good. It's bittersweet. It's hard to leave because of family and the relationships I've built with Lawrence and with the players."
Bosio, who joined the Lawrence staff in 2006, will be on campus for Lawrence's Skills Camp is mid-December and head out for spring training in February.
"We are simultaneously excited and saddened by this news," Director of Athletics Robert Beeman said. "Chris and I discussed this possibility when I offered him our interim head coaching position in September. We decided it was best to have him stay on as an assistant for just this very reason. We did not want to be looking for someone to lead the program in December."
Mike Barthelmess, former Principia College head coach, was named the interim coach in September. Lawrence will conduct a search for a new head coach in early 2008.
"Chris is going to stay in the area and has affirmed his commitment to our program, both as a recruiter, clinic coach, and as an off-season coach," Beeman said. "We value his contributions to Lawrence baseball and consider him to be a Viking, no matter where he is working and what color uniform he is wearing."
Bosio put together an impressive career in the big leagues, compiling a 94-93 record with a 3.96 ERA. He struck out 1,059 and walked only 481 during his career. Bosio had five seasons in which he won 10 or more games, including going 16-6 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1992. After that season, his seventh in Milwaukee, he left for Seattle via free agency. Bosio had one of the finest moments of his career during his first season with the Mariners. He tossed a no-hitter on April 22, 1993, in a 7-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. He walked the first two batters and then retired the next 27.
Since retiring after the 1996 season, Bosio has been involved in coaching. He spent the 2003 season as the pitching coach with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and had logged three seasons as a pitching coach in the Mariners organization before that.
"I still intend to work with Lawrence University with recruiting and the fall program," Bosio said. "I've got a lot of good friends on that club, along with guys who have graduated, and those relationships will be there when I get back."