The college baseball community is mourning the loss of a legend. Skip Bertman, who led LSU to 5 national championships, passed away on Friday morning at the age of 88.
Bertman arrived at LSU in the summer of 1983 ahead of a legendary 18-year tenure coaching the Tigers baseball team. Under Bertman, LSU made the College World Series 11 times, winning the national championship 5 times (1991, ’93, ’96, ’97 and 2000).
LSU’s feats under Bertman extend well beyond the 5 national titles. The Tigers had nine 50-win seasons, 7 regular-season SEC championships, 6 SEC Tournament titles and 16 NCAA Tournament titles.
Bertman was the 6-time national Coach of the Year and 7-time SEC Coach of the Year. He posted the winning percentage in SEC history at .724. A College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 2006, 3 of Bertman’s players are also inductees (Ben McDonald, Todd Walker and Eddy Furniss). Bertman coached 41 players who made it to the MLB.
“By far the greatest part of being the baseball coach at LSU the last five years,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said via a team release, “is the relationship I was able to build with the greatest college baseball coach of my lifetime, Skip Bertman. The mentorship, and most importantly, the friendship we built is easily one of the best, most rewarding, and special relationships I have ever had. What an honor it has been to sit with, talk baseball with, smile with, and laugh with Coach.
“Coach Bertman was so far ahead of his time while leading the LSU Tigers, and as a young coach just starting my journey, I watched, studied, and admired his incredible skills of leading, motivating, teaching, coaching, and ultimately cultivating what became ‘The Powerhouse’ of College Baseball. Being able to share the 2023 and 2025 National Championships with Coach Bertman watching is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. The impact he made and legacy he has left on the state of Louisiana and college baseball is beyond remarkable and will never be duplicated.
“I love you Coach, I will miss you, and will continue to work every day in a manner that I know would make you proud.”
Bertman was LSU’s athletics director for 7 years. During his tenure, he hired 4 LSU coaches who won national championships: Les Miles (football), Paul Mainieri (baseball), Chuck Winstead (men’s golf) and Dennis Shaver (men’s and women’s track & field).
“Few people have had a greater impact on LSU than Skip Bertman,” said LSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Verge Ausberry in a team release. “As the greatest college baseball coach of all-time, and later as our Athletics Director, Skip developed a championship standard and culture that still guide us today. Personally, he was a dear friend, mentor and advisor, and I’m forever grateful for the trust and faith he placed in me to serve this institution. I will continue to honor Skip by leaning into the lessons he taught me every day. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this time.”
The playing surface at Alex Box Stadium was officially named Skip Bertman Field in 2013. Bertman’s No. 15 jersey is retired.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
