Skip Bertman obit

Legendary LSU Coach and Athletic Director Skip Bertman dies at age 88

 

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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Stanley “Skip” Bertman, the legendary architect of LSU baseball, transformative athletic director and one of the most influential figures in the history of college sports, has died at the age of 88.

Bertman passed away at 1:12 a.m. Friday at the Baton Rouge General hospital surrounded by his daughters.

Beloved by fans and former players, Bertman became the head baseball coach at LSU in 1984 and went on to win five national championships and seven Southeastern Conference titles during his 18 seasons leading the Tigers.

He stepped down from coaching in 2001 to become LSU’s athletic director, a position he held until 2008.

As athletic director, he continued to cultivate a culture of championship success across all sports, modernized athletic facilities and spearheaded the construction of the new, state-of-the-art Alex Box Stadium, where the playing field was named “Skip Bertman Field” in his honor.

Bertman was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Sandy, who died in March 2025 at the age of 87, and their daughter, Dr. Lisa Jo Bertman Pate, who died of cancer in 2012. He is survived by his daughters Jan, Jodi and Lori, as well as his grandchildren.

Building a Powerhouse

When Bertman arrived in Baton Rouge in 1984, LSU baseball was a modest program. Over 18 seasons, he built a powerhouse that defined a generation of college athletics. Under his guidance, the Tigers reached the NCAA tournament 16 times, advanced to the College World Series 11 times and claimed seven SEC championships.

Most notably, Bertman brought five national championships to Baton Rouge, winning titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000. He retired with a .754 winning percentage in NCAA tournament play, which stands as the highest in college baseball history.

Beyond the trophies, Bertman revolutionized how college baseball was marketed and experienced. He regularly packed the original Alex Box Stadium, turning Tiger baseball games into premier community events. Under his leadership, LSU led the nation in college baseball attendance during each of his final six seasons, establishing a passionate fan culture that remains a hallmark of the program.

“Coach Skip Bertman was an incredible ambassador for LSU,” former Tigers pitcher Billy Brian said. “His impact on LSU and college baseball is immeasurable. Most everyone knows Coach Bertman for his baseball knowledge and dominance. Former players know him as a role model, great father and husband. The legacy of Coach Bertman will live forever.”

International and Administrative Leadership

In addition to his historic collegiate run, Bertman made an impact on the international stage. He served as an assistant coach for the gold-medal-winning 1988 U.S. Olympic team and as the head coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team in Atlanta, which captured a bronze medal.

Accolades and Honors

In recognition of his legendary contributions, Bertman was inducted into the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. His honors include:

Five-time Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000)

Two-time Baseball America Coach of the Year (1986, 1996)

Seven-time SEC Coach of the Year (1986, 1990–1993, 1996, 1997)

In 11 seasons as head baseball coach at Miami Beach High School, Bertman's team won a state championship and was state runner-up twice. Bertman was named Florida High School Coach of the Year three times. Based in part on these coaching credentials, Bertman went on to work as recruiting coordinator, pitching coach and associate head coach at the University of Miami for eight seasons (1976–1983) under Ron Fraser. During this time, the Hurricanes won the national championship in 1982. In that 1982 College World Series, Bertman orchestrated one of the most famous plays in college baseball history—a phantom pickoff play known as the "Grand Illusion" which resulted in Wichita State's Phil Stephenson being thrown out at second base.