He stayed on Chicago's coaching staff until 1981, and then joined the Houston Astros organization as a roving minor league hitting instructor, a position he held through 1987. Later, he worked as a hitting coach for Houston in 1988. The Seattle Mariners hired Clines as their hitting coach before the 1988 season.
He remained on Chicago's coaching staff until 1981 and then joined the Houston Astros organization as a minor league hitting instructor. This position continued through 1987. In 1988, he became a hitting coach for Houston. The Seattle Mariners hired Clines to be their hitting coach before the start of the 1988 season.