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Ned Yost was the Braves' third-base coach for the last four season. (Darren Hauck)

But when he was announced as the Brewers' manager on Tuesday afternoon, Yost introduced himself to the Milwaukee media and the baseball world as a determined individual who is excited by his newest challenge.

Yost, who served as the Braves' third-base coach for the past four seasons, had been on Cox's coaching staff since the Braves began their unprecedented run of 11 consecutive division titles in 1991. Now, Yost, 47, takes over a team that hasn't had a winning record since 1992 and finished last in the National League Central this past season.

"It's a lot of work, but it's going to be fun work," Yost said. "It's stuff that I think we're going to have a blast doing from day one because I think you're going to see a progression of progress from the first day of Spring Training to the last day of the year."

As the Braves' season came to a close, Cox made it known that he thought Yost deserved a shot at being a manager. Now that he's gone, however, Cox has mixed feelings.

"I'm very pleased for Ned," Cox said. "But it's going to be hard to replace him. He was one of our horses. He was an excellent third-base coach."

Yost, who played for the Brewers from 1980-83, likened his excitement to manage the Brewers to that of a "four-year-old at Christmas time." And he said he will miss learning from Cox. "As excited I was to come manage this club, a little bit of me was sad because I had to leave Bobby," Yost said.

Yost's only other previous managerial experience came when he managed the Braves' South Atlantic League team in Sumter, S.C., from 1988-90. Cox brought him to Atlanta in 1991 as the bullpen coach, and Yost ran the Braves' Spring Training workouts the past four years. "Yes, I don't have much experience managing, but I've been around a Hall of Fame manager for 11 years," Yost said. "And somewhere along the way, I figured I must have been a pretty good Major League coach because I never got the chance to go back to the minors to manage."

While with the Braves, Yost never wanted to be the center of attention.

"They chose a terrific coach and person," Cox said of the Brewers.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin admitted he didn't know much about Yost until he received recommendations from Cox and Braves general manager John Schuerholz.

When Melvin met Yost, he sensed enthusiasm that he thinks will help turn around the franchise.

"I call it sincere enthusiasm because I can see it and hear it," Melvin said. "He came in here and won the job with his enthusiasm and work ethic. Those qualities I think are needed in this organization. ... It's a real credit to Ned and the individual he is."

Yost, an avid NASCAR fan, will wear No. 3 in honor of his good friend Dale Earnhardt, who was killed during the final laps of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Cox said he will likely announce Yost's replacement within the next two weeks but that he is not ready to begin discussing candidates.

Current first-base coach Glenn Hubbard is a possibility, as are minor-league managers Fredi Gonzalez (Richmond) and Brian Snitker (Greenville).

Gonzalez, who interviewed for the Cubs' and Indians' managerial vacancies, has been on the Marlins' Major League staff. Snitker was on the Atlanta staff in 1985 and from 1988-90.

Free agents: Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine lead a list of eight Braves who have filed for free agency. Others include Mike Remlinger, Chris Hammond, Julio Franco, B.J. Surhoff, Dave Martinez and Albie Lopez. The Braves have exclusive negotiating rights with these players until Nov. 12. Until then, these players can talk with other teams -- but can't negotiate.

Players have until Nov. 11 to file for free agency. Other Braves players who may file within the next week are Matt Franco, Darren Holmes, Darren Bragg and Keith Lockhart.

Javy Lopez exercised his option to return for the 2003 season and will earn $7 million. He earned $6 million while hitting .233 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs in 2002.

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com and can be reached at bowman.mark@worldnet.att.net. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.