 Cincinnati farm director Sheldon "Chief" Bender placed Scherger in charge of their minor league spring training camp in 1969.During the season, he led their rookie-level Gulf Coast League Reds and continued to lead the winter league team as well.When Sparky Anderson, a former teammate of Scherger, was named manager of the Reds for the 1970 season, Scherger was hired as bench coach.