Pirates Bring Coach with Jim Leyland Connections Out of Retirement
The Pittsburgh Pirates made an unexpected move on Friday, bringing 78-year-old Gene Lamont out of retirement to serve as a special advisor to rookie manager Don Kelly.
However, when Kelly was named the Pirates’ manager last week, Lamont’s name quickly came to mind. For those familiar with Kelly’s playing days, the decision to reunite two figures from Jim Leyland’s distinguished coaching legacy wasn’t a surprise.
Lamont, who last coached with the Detroit Tigers in 2017, had been enjoying his retirement when Kelly reached out to ask him to join his staff.
Gene Lamont and Indianapolis manager Chris Truby are joining the Pirates’ coaching staff pic.twitter.com/AeDWKD1c1p
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) May 16, 2025
“I’m really excited about it,” Kelly said before Friday’s game. “Bringing in Gene Lamont as a mentor is huge, not just for me, but for the entire staff and players. He worked with Leyland, and I don’t need to say much more about how I feel about him. I’m just really pumped that he’s willing to join us and be here for the Pirates and the organization.”
A Lifetime in Baseball
Lamont’s baseball career spans six decades. The former catcher spent parts of five seasons with the Tigers (1970-75) before transitioning to coaching. He managed in the minors for nine years before joining Leyland’s Pirates coaching staff in 1986 as third base coach.
Former #Pittsburgh #Pirates Coach (1986-1991, 1996), & Mgr (1997-2000), Gene Lamont is back as a special advisor to Don Kelly.
In his #HallOfFame speech, Jim Leyland got choked up as he paid tribute to his friend &colleague of nearly 60 yrs:#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/x7O5elOqsa
— 1986-92 Pittsburgh Pirates (@1992Pirates) May 16, 2025
Lamont’s first major managerial role came in 1992 with the White Sox, where he won AL Manager of the Year in 1993 after guiding Chicago to the ALCS. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1997, succeeding Leyland as the Pirates’ manager, a role he held until 2000. Later, he reunited with Leyland in Detroit from 2006-13, serving as bench coach while Kelly was a player with the Tigers.
An Unconventional Hire
The Pirates are opting for a unique approach by not naming a traditional bench coach. Instead, Lamont will take on an advisory role, while Chris Truby will handle the day-to-day coaching duties and Mike Rabelo will take on more strategic responsibilities.
“Yeah, these are definitely unorthodox decisions,” Kelly said. “First and foremost, we wanted to make sure we had the right experience and decision-making in Pittsburgh. The second thing was making sure we could shake up the coaching and player development system a bit and ensure we’re in a good place. I think we’ve done that, and having Geno here in this capacity is a big part of it.”
Kelly also emphasized Lamont’s commitment to helping, regardless of title: “He’ll be doing a lot of what a bench coach does. That’s the beauty of Geno. He’s not focused on titles—he’s here to help.”
Convincing Lamont to Return
Kelly opened up about the process of convincing Lamont to come out of retirement.
“What was he doing when I called? Golfing and spending time with his grandkids. For him to even consider this means a lot to me, and we’re lucky to have him,” Kelly shared.
When asked if he had to persuade Lamont to come back, Kelly said, “I didn’t need to. I’m not sure if Leyland had to talk him into it, but I don’t think so. He was the first name I thought of, and then Leyland reached out. Having him on board is amazing.”
Kelly wasn’t entirely sure Lamont would agree to return, admitting, “I wasn’t sure, but I have a ton of respect for him. I can’t say enough about my time with him in Detroit.”
Lamont is expected to join the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Monday and will be in the dugout for upcoming games.
Bridging Generations
Lamont’s hiring marks a full-circle moment for the Pirates. He first arrived in Pittsburgh in 1986 as part of Leyland’s staff, which would go on to lead the team to three consecutive NL East titles from 1990 to 1992. Now, Lamont returns to mentor Kelly, who played under both Lamont and Leyland in Detroit.
For a Pirates team looking to redefine its identity, Lamont’s extensive experience—spanning eight seasons as a major league manager and 21 more as a coach—adds immediate credibility to Kelly’s staff.
Lamont will also play a key role in helping a Pirates offense that has struggled early this season.
With his arrival, the Pirates hope to blend traditional baseball wisdom with modern approaches as they look to turn their season around.
Leave a Reply