J. Stanley "Skip" Bertman, the Hall of Fame baseball coach who steered LSU’s program to five national titles, passed away at the age of 88 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Born in Detroit on May 23, 1938, and raised in Miami Beach, Bertman arrived at LSU in 1983 and spent the next 18 years building a dynasty that would dominate college baseball.
During his tenure the Tigers captured five NCAA championships — 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000 — and made 11 appearances in the College World Series, a run that produced a 870‑330‑3 record and launched 41 players into the majors.
His impact extended beyond the diamond; as athletics director from 2001 to 2008 he recruited four coaches who later guided LSU to additional national championships, while his fundraising innovations lifted the program’s profile nationwide.
Bertman’s teams earned Olympic medals, including a bronze in 1996 and a gold‑medal pitching staff in 1988, and his No. 15 jersey was retired at Alex Box Stadium, where the field now bears his name.
He is survived by his wife Sandy, who died earlier this year, their daughters Jan, Jodi and Lori, and grandchildren Sophie, Isaac, Sam and Ezra.
Beyond baseball, Bertman was a dedicated philanthropist, serving on the boards of United Way, Cancer Services, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America and the Anti‑Defamation League.
A Legacy That Transcends the Diamond
Colleagues, former players and fans alike remember Bertman not only for his winning record but for the culture of excellence he instilled at LSU, a culture that continues to shape the program’s future.