A Look at How Angels Are Forming Their 2026 Coaching Staff
The Los Angeles Angels shocked many with the hiring of Kurt Suzuki to a one-year deal to manage the Angels in 2026. With the news, the front office decided to hire a whole new coaching staff to work alongside the new manager going forward. The hires announced last week include former players and members of the Angels' coaching staff. With the number of hires, a question remains about how the group will mesh in a year of plenty of new, yet familiar, faces.
One of the more notable additions to the coaching staff is former Angels catcher Max Stassi, who spent four seasons with the club. The signing is a positive one as both Stassi and Suzuki provide plenty of catching experience that can help Logan O’Hoppe, who struggled defensively behind the plate. O’Hoppe struggled mightily last season, struggling the most with pitch framing, with minus eight catcher framing runs, placing him 50th out of 57 catchers in 2025. The move will serve O’Hoppe well as he continues to develop his skills. For a young catcher still learning the finer points of the position, having two veterans guiding him could be a valuable advantage.
Joining Stassi is the longtime Triple-A Salt Lake manager, Keith Johnson, who will be the new third base coach in Anaheim. His understanding of players’ strengths and weaknesses gives the Halos a coach who can help bridge the developmental gap between the Majors and Minors. Even more so with the number of prospects the Angels look to give playing time to in the upcoming season. His success with the Bees aligns exactly with what Suzuki and the front office have highlighted as a priority for 2026.
Another addition to the new staff is Andy Schatzley, who will serve as the team’s new infield coach after also managing the Angels' Double-A Rocket City. Schatzley spent four years managing the Trash Pandas and, before that, years coaching at the collegiate level. His arrival brings another voice who already understands the younger players, working with the younger core of guys like Bryce Teodosio, Zach Neto, and Christian Moore in the Minors. The team is going to need as many people as possible to help develop the players into consistent, full-time players who can compete at both the plate and in the field.
The organization's coaching hires reveal a clearer vision, grounded in familiarity between players and staff. Each coach has a prior connection to the Halos, whether through playing time or player development at different levels. That shared background will give Suzuki more stability in the upcoming year, which could not have looked any different than when he signed the contract to lead the team. The moves are great on paper, as the guys in the clubhouse already have chemistry with the coaches. Still, the question remains whether all the chemistry and experience among the new staff will lead to a more successful season.
The Angels are banking on a staff built around relationships, internal knowledge, and player development to back up a young, up-and-coming roster who have struggled to find consistency. There’s no better time for the new staff to mesh with the current squad and give Suzuki a coaching staff that is just as familiar to him as they are with the players. There are still a few coaching positions to fill, but in the meantime, the team's current outlook is positive. Who knows? If the team gets going under new leadership in the clubhouse and works well with the new staff, Suzuki might have an opportunity to return in 2027. Time will tell.
