Elvin "El" Tappe (1927-1998): A catcher by trade and an Illinois native, Tappe was entrusted by Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley to create the College of Coaches. A Cub lifer, he broke in with the team in 1954 at the rather advanced age of 27, became a coach in 1958 but would keep the gear handy even through the horrid 1962 season, when at age 35 he started 21 games behind the plate and played errorless ball.
Record as "head manager": 46-70
Avitus "Vedie" Himsl (1917-2004): A minor league pitcher from 1938-46 with three years interrupted by World War II, Himsl (a Cubs coach sicne 1960) proved to be a principal "head manager" for the Cubs in 1961. He'd had three years managing at that point (1950-51, 57). Dividing his season between Chicago and Wenatchee of the Northwest League (as were three of the other coaches), he had a 10-21 record in Chicago. His only other time as a skipper was 1964, when he guided the Cubs' PCL team to 98 losses.
HImsl had moved up to Cubs Director of Scouting when he retired in 985.
Harry Craft (1915-1995). The veteran skioper, it would have been likely that Craft be considered Head manager in 1961 -- but was only designated as such for 16 games (7-9). He likely agreed; he was on the move in 1962 to become sole manager of the expansion Houston Colt 45s. He'd enjoy six seasons as a good-field, no-hit MLB outfielder for the Reds, reaching the World Series in 1940. In August of '42, he was dealt to the Yankees -- where he remained in AAA through 1948. His major league managerial stint was 1957-59 with the Athletics, finishing seventh each season. After his Cubs; College days, he managed the Colts for two years and scouted for the Orioles until he retired in 1991.
Lou Klein (1918-1976): Klein was called on to manage only 11 times '61 season, but would be called on again in 1962 and 1965 and would amass a career record of 65-82. A New Orleans native, he was a top rookie for the Cardinals in 1943, but never duplicated that year as the war effort got him in 1944 and in 1946 was among those blackballed for jumping to the Mexican League. He returned to the majors briefly in 1951 and played in the minors through '58, but began working as a player-manager in the Cubs' system in 1955. He was a member of the Cubs coaching staff for part of the 1960 season before joining the "college." He was the last official "head manager" finishing up the 1965 season, then going on to scout for the Cubs until his sudden death from a stroke at age 57.