Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

New York Yankees first base coach and outfield instructor Reggie Willits will leave the team at the end of the year to join the University of Oklahoma as a volunteer assistant baseball coach.

He is the most recent departure from manager Aaron Boone‘s coaching staff. Last week, multiple reports emerged that the Yankees would not renew the contracts of hitting coach Marcus Thames and third base coach Phil Nevin and that assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere also wouldn’t return.



Willits, 40, spent seven years in the Yankees organization, including the past four (2018-21) as the Yankees’ first base coach and outfield instructor. He was the club’s minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator the prior three seasons.

He will depart when his contract expires in December.

“It’s been a challenging personal decision to make. I’m leaving a team and organization I’ve loved being a part of, but I’m returning home to be closer to my family and to work for a program I have deep ties to and great respect for,” he said.

A native of Oklahoma, he was head coach at Binger-Oney High School in Oklahoma from 2013-14 and won two state championships. He played two seasons at Oklahoma.