A total of 11 men were officially part of the Chicago Cubs' "College of Coaches" in 1961. Oft-fogotten were the coaches who did not take a turn as "head manager" during the season.
Golden "Goldie" Holt (1902-1991) was a minor league infielder for 23 seasons between 1924-47, an active player until age 45. He was on the Pirates' coaching staff from 1948-50. The Cubs brought him to the MLB staff from, 1961-65, then went on to the Dodgers as a scout from 69-73, where he had time to teach Charlie Hough the knuckleball.
Freddie Martin (1915-1979) pitched for the Cardinals for three seasons (1946, 49-50, compiling a nifty 12-3 record, including being suspended for two years for jumping to the Mexican League), but spent 17 seasons pitching in the minors -- including two games in 1960, at age 45. He was not in Cubs uniform much of the 1961 season, as he was the principal manager at AAA Houston. But he was listed as a coach from 1961-65, then returned to player development as a minor league pitching instructor until 1978 -- during which time he taught Bruce Sutter the split-finger fastball. White Sox manager Don Kessinger hired Martin to be his pitching coach in 1979, but rapidly advancing cancer forced his departure before the regular season. He passed away in June of 1969.
Verlon "Rube" Walker (1929-1971), best known as Al "Rube" Walker's brother, never rose about AA as a player, toiling in the minors from 1948-59. But the Cubs latched on to him as a manager in their system from, 1957-60, when he was promoted to the "College of Coaches." He was there for the full team 1961-65, then became Leo Durocher's bullpen coach in 1966, He battled leukemia during this time. and was in remission for a time, but was stricken shortly after being promoted to Cubs MLB pitching coach for the 1971 season. He passed away in March of 1971 at age 47.