James Lester Strode (born June 17, 1958 in McMinnville, Tennessee) is the bullpen coach for the Chicago Cubs. He was born and raised in McMinnville, Tennessee, often crediting McMinnville as his home. After attending Kentucky State University, Strode was selected as a pitcher by the Kansas City Royals in the 4th round of the 1980 amateur draft and played in the minors from 1980 to 1988.After his playing career ended, he was a longtime pitching coach in the Chicago Cubs farm system.