Rob Thomson, a former Kansas University baseball player, was named bench coach of the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Thomson, 44, has held various titles over the past 18 seasons with the Yankees. He was the club’s field coordinator last season under manager Joe Torre.

First-year Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi, who spent time with Thomson last week in the Dominican Republic, said he believes Thomson is up to the challenge.

“I saw the work he did when I was a player there and how prepared he is,” Girardi said of Thomson. “He’s a take-charge kind of guy. He’s managed and he’s coached third base. He’s done so many different jobs that I think he’s ready for this step.”

A native of Sarnia, Ontario, Thomson was a catcher-third baseman for the Jayhawks from 1983-85. He was named the Jayhawks’ MVP in both 1984 and 1985. Thomson’s .443 batting average in ’84 is still the school record.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Thomson was selected in the 32nd round of the 1985 draft by the Detroit Tigers. He was in the Detroit system from 1985-1988 before joining the Tigers’ minor-league coaching staff in 1988.