College Baseball Hall of Famer and Coaching Legend Skip Bertman Passes Away

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, legendary Louisiana State University (LSU) head coach and goodwill ambassador for the game Skip Bertman passed away early Friday morning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the age of 88.

Bertman, who was in the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, won five NCAA Division I Men’s College World Series titles during his 18-season tenure at LSU and is the namesake of the College Baseball Foundation’s (CBF) national coach of the year award.

“College baseball has lost one of its true giants,” CBF Chairman of the Board of Trustees Craig Ramsey said. “Skip Bertman was a rare breed - an authentic, passionate leader who had an extraordinary ability to connect with baseball players, coaches, umpires, fans, and everyone privileged to be around him. What separated Skip was not simply his incredible record or the championships he won. It was his ability to teach, motivate, develop and lead people. He understood that great baseball programs are built on great people, great relationships and a relentless commitment to excellence. His impact on college baseball will remain forever.”

The Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, sponsored by Marucci Sports, is regarded as the premier coaching award in College Baseball. It was created in 2013 to honor the finest in college baseball coaching - those who don’t just win games but build programs, shape players, and set a standard for the sport. The award recognizes a leader whose influence extends well beyond the diamond. In tribute to Coach Bertman’s lifelong relationships with his players, beginning in 2026, the award is presented by a rotating former player of Bertman alongside the presenting sponsor Marucci Sports.

“The College Baseball Foundation is saddened to learn of the passing of the legendary Skip Bertman,” CBF CEO and Executive Director Tom Jacobs said. “First and foremost, our condolences and prayers go to the Bertman Family, including his daughter Lori who serves as an integral member of our Board of Trustees. Our thoughts are also with those in the Baton Rouge and LSU communities as well as his extended families within college baseball and college athletics. Skip set a standard for excellence, both on and off the field. We are proud to have Coach Bertman as a member of our inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. We are honored to be able to share his inspirational story with all. His legacy will be forever celebrated and preserved.”

There was a time when college baseball was an afterthought, a sport played in front of sparse crowds and given little attention outside a few powerhouse programs. Then came Skip Bertman. When he arrived at LSU in 1984, he saw the potential for something bigger - a dynasty, a spectacle, a new way of thinking about the game.

Over 18 seasons, he built LSU into a juggernaut, winning five national championships (1991, '93, '96, '97, 2000), seven SEC titles, and posting a staggering record of 870-330-3 (.724). By the late '90s, LSU wasn't just winning - it was packing Alex Box Stadium with fans who came to watch baseball and to be part of something bigger, too. His influence extended beyond the college game. In 1996, he led the U.S. Olympic baseball team to a bronze medal in Atlanta. He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003. Before LSU, he honed his craft as an assistant at the University of Miami, learning the game in ways that would later transform the entire sport.

Beyond the wins, the trophies, and the accolades, Bertman was always about people. He and his late wife, Sandy, have four daughters, and even as he built championships, he never stopped advocating for youth sports and education. His impact on baseball is measured not only in titles, but in the lasting cultural shift that changed how generations of players, coaches, and fans see, teach, and play the game.

Bertman’s enduring legacy will continue to be celebrated through the College Baseball Foundation and at the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Skip's passing reminds us the vital importance of the work of the College Baseball Foundation,” Ramsey said. “We have a responsibility to preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and people who have made college baseball the greatest game in the world. That is why it is so important that we continue building the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Overland Park, Kansas - a permanent home where generations to come can see, learn about and celebrate the greatest of all time in college baseball.

“Skip Bertman leaves behind a legacy that will never fade. We will remember him. We will celebrate him. And we will make sure future generations know his name and his remarkable story.”

About the College Baseball Foundation

The purpose of the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is to preserve, elevate, and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us, and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.

The College Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Support for the College Baseball Hall of Fame will help preserve the rich history of the sport for future generations. All donations to the College Baseball Hall of Fame are tax deductible and can be made via this link on the organization’s website.

The CBF presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop), the Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the Skip

Bertman Coach of the Year Award, presented by Marucci, the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence, and the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented by Rawlings. The CBF also works in collaboration with the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey Award, presented by Hasty Awards (nation’s top catcher) and the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award.

About the College Baseball Hall of Fame

Each year, more than 200 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 175 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.

The College Baseball Hall of Fame established a physical location in Overland Park,
Kansas in 2026 with the opening of the Home Run Dugout. Located within the iconic Museum at Prairiefire, the College Baseball Hall of Fame will expand in 2027 and serve as a shared community asset, deepening connections to the nation's favorite pastime through a dynamic and ever-evolving space for college baseball enthusiasts to celebrate the sport’s rich past, present, and future.