Kirk Champion
From BR Bullpen
- Born September 4, 1957 in Granite City, IL USA
Kirk Champion is the brother of Keith Champion. Kirk was assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State University (1979-1981) then head coach at Rend Lake Junior College from 1982-1985. From 1986-1988, he was assistant coach at Southern Illinois University.
Champion moved into the pro ranks in 1989 as a pitching coach for the South Bend White Sox and held that job for 3 years. In 1992, he was pitching coach of the Sarasota White Sox. He was pitching coach of the Birmingham Barons from 1993-1996, then was with the Nashville Sounds in 1997, making it to AAA. He remained at that level in 1998 with the Calgary Cannons, then from 1999-2002 with the Charlotte Knights.
In 2003, Champion became the minor league pitching coordinator for the Chicago White Sox, a job he still holds as of 2008.
Champion has also been pitching coach of Team USA in the 2001 Baseball World Cup and 2006 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Additionally, he was a pitching coach in the 2001 International League All-Star Game, 2000 Futures Game, 1992 Florida State League All-Star Game and 1989 Midwest League All-Star Game. He also was a pitching coach in 1990, 1992 and 1993 in the Venezuelan Winter League. He has helped run baseball clinics in Germany.
