[Astros.Com] Astros hire former Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace as pitching coach

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...ent_id=1740324&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros announced today that the club has hired Dave Wallace as the team's pitching coach for the 2007 season. The announcement was made by General Manager Tim Purpura.
Wallace, 59, spent the last four seasons (2003-06) as the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox, including the 2004 World Series champion club. Before his tenure with the Red Sox, Wallace also served as the Major League pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-97) and the New York Mets (N.L. championship season of 2000). He served as a minor league pitching coach in the Dodgers organization for 14 seasons from 1981-94, including stints with Class A Vero Beach (1981-82), Double A San Antonio (1983), Triple A Albuquerque (1984-86), and as the organization's minor league pitching instructor from 1987-94.

"We are pleased to bring such a tremendous pitching coach and teacher to our organization with the hiring of Dave Wallace as our Major League pitching coach," said Purpura. "Dave has a remarkable background as a successful pitching coach at all levels of the game, and he will serve as a key member of our staff as we work toward our goal of returning to the playoffs in 2007."

Wallace also spent several seasons in the front office with the Dodgers organization, including serving as interim general manager from April-October of 2001. He also served as a special assistant to the general manager in the off-season of 2000 and as the senior vice-president of baseball operations during the 2002 season.

"I am excited to join an organization that has such a strong winning tradition," said Wallace. "The Astros have always had a high standard for pitching, and I look forward to working with such a talented group."