Rockies' Walt Weiss will have Tom Runnells as bench coach

Colorado Rockies new manager Walt Weiss has named Tom Runnells as his bench coach, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post.

Runnells served as the Rockies bench coach under former manager Jim Tracy, and has held the position for the club since 2009. Tracy resigned on Oct. 7 with $1.4 million and one year remaining on his contract.

The 57-year-old Runnells, a former infielder with the Cincinnati Reds, served as the manager of the Montreal Expos from 1991-1992. After leaving the Expos, he spent time managing in the Detroit Tigers minor league system before latching on with the Rockies.

Runnells was a candidate for the Rockies' managerial position and interviewed with the club before the search was narrowed to Weiss and Matt Williams. The 48-year-old Weiss was named the team's manager on Wednesday, despite having no experience managing at the major league level. Weiss spent last year coaching Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora.