The 2006 season was Hume's 11th consecutive season as the Reds bullpen coach. He was serving as interim pitching coach because regular pitching coach Vern Ruhle was absent with cancer (Multiple myeloma). Ruhle died in January 2007. Prior to Ruhle's death, Dick Pole was signed to be the pitching coach for the Reds, and Ruhle was assigned to help with the minor leagues. Hume then went back to being the bullpen coach.
