Alan Cockrell

Atlee Alan Cockrell (born December 5, 1962, in Kansas City, Kansas) is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder, and a former hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. Cockrell is an alumnus of Parkwood High School and the University of Tennessee, where he pitched for the baseball team, and played quarterback for the football team.

High School & College Football Career

Twice named first-team all state, Cockrell led Joplin, Missouri's Parkwood High School Bears to a 31-3 record during his three years as starting quarterback. A triple threat, Alan's career statistics included not only 3,499 yards passing and 44 touchdowns as quarterback, but an additional 1,541 yards and 36 touchdowns rushing, and 154 extra points and 8 field goals as a kicker.

His mere presence on the team was controversial as his parents had relocated from nearby Riverton, Kansas for the express purpose of giving him the opportunity to play for a higher profile program, and not without the help of local boosters who secured Cockrell's father a job with a local engineering firm despite his questionable qualifications. The move paid off as Cockrell led the Bear's wishbone attack to an undefeated season (14-0) and the Missouri State Championship in 1980, gaining him the national attention necessary to secure a full scholarship to Oklahoma State (Cockrell would later transfer to Tennessee).

An All-American at Tennessee, Cockrell was the Volunteers starting quarterback for the 1982 and 1983 seasons, a tenure that culminated in a Citrus Bowl championship in his final season. Alan is one of only four quarterbacks to start a game for Tennessee as a freshman - the other three are Peyton Manning (1994), Casey Clausen (2000), and James Banks (2002).

Baseball Career

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 1st round of the 1984 MLB amateur draft, Cockrell would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Colorado Rockies on September 7, 1996 - a pinch hit appearance in which he struck out against All-Star closer Billy Wagner. His first major league hit came three days later in the form of a pinch hit double off Tom Glavine vs. Atlanta at Coors Field. Alan ultimately appeared in his final game on September 29, by|1996.

Cockrell was notable for his role as a replacement player during Spring Training prior to the 1995 season. Replacement players took over for professional baseball players when the Major League Baseball Players Association went on strike. The strike was resolved at the end of Spring Training. Cockrell would return to Major League Baseball with the Colorado Rockies in 1996, however, was blacklisted and not permitted to join the Major League Baseball Players Association. Fact|date=February 2007

Coaching Career

Cockrell was named hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies November 7th, 2006 - his second stint, having previously served as hitting instructor the last five months of the 2002 season when Clint Hurdle was promoted to manager. Under Cockrell's guidance in 2007, the Rockies slugged their way to a National League Championship leading the circuit in batting, on base percentage, and total hits. Prior to his promotion to the major league team, Alan served as hitting instructor for Triple A Colorado Springs from 2003-2006, and as the Rockies roving minor league hitting instruction for the 2001 & 2002 seasons. [ [http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=col&coachorstaffid=329102184121 The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Manager and Coaches ] ]

Cockrell was one of three coaches let go by the Rockies after a disappointing 2008 season in which the team won only 78 games.

Personal

Alan lives in Colorado Springs along with his wife Tameson and kids, Ryan, Jake, Madelyn and Beau. When the Rockies are at home, Alan makes a daily commute 75 miles north to Denver.

Teams

* Colorado Rockies: 1996

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cockral01.shtml Alan Cockrell at "Baseball Reference.com"]