Milwaukee.Brewers.MLB.com

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

Cecil Cooper joined the Brewers' front office in 1997. (Adam McCalvy/MLB.com)

Cooper, who led Triple-A Indianapolis to a 130-156 record in two seasons as manager, will now serve under Houston skipper Phil Garner. The two men served together in Milwaukee from 1997, when Cooper was hired as the Brewers' director of player development, until 1999, when Garner was relieved of his duties as Brewers manager.

The Astros asked for permission to interview Cooper last week. His departure leaves a managerial opening at the Brewers' new Triple-A Nashville affiliate.

"We'll probably wait until next week to start it," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said of the search for Cooper's replacement. "We'll consider people in-house first. If we don't find the right fit then we will look outside the organization."

One possibility is Double-A Huntsville manager Frank Kremblas, who has drawn raves from prospects who have played for him and "obviously has some familiarity with our players," Melvin said.

"It's obviously an important decision because we have a lot of young players," Melvin said. "So we want to make sure we make the right decision rather than worry about the timing."

Cooper batted .302 in 11 seasons for Milwaukee and hit .300 or better in seven straight seasons in his career. He belted a career-best 32 home runs in 1982 and drove in the winning run in the 1982 American League Championship Series to propel the Brewers to their only World Series.

Along with Major League Baseball Commissioner and former Brewers president Bud Selig, Cooper was inducted into the Brewers Walk of Fame at Miller Park in 2002.

After retiring from baseball, Cooper spent nine years as a player agent with CSMG International before returning to Milwaukee's front office. He was the team's director of player development from 1997-99 and served as a special assistant to the general manager and a roving minor league hitting instructor from 2000-01.

Cooper's first coaching gig came in 2002, when the Brewers let go then-manager Davey Lopes and promoted bench coach Jerry Royster to interim manager. Cooper served out the season as Royster's bench coach, the same position he will now fill in Houston.

"This will be a good step for him," Melvin said. "He lives in Houston and he obviously has some familiarity with Phil. I'm happy to see him get the opportunity."

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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