Skip Bertman, the Hall of Fame baseball coach who guided LSU’s Tigers to five College World Series titles, died Tuesday at the age of 88.
Born in Miami, Florida, he first made his mark on the diamond as a player before moving into coaching, eventually serving as an assistant to Ron Fraser at the University of Miami.
From 1983 to 2001, Bertman transformed LSU from a program without a national championship into a dominant force, compiling a 870‑33 record and a .754 winning percentage in the NCAA Tournament, the highest in the event’s history.
His teams captured five national crowns, and the program continued to thrive after his retirement, adding three more titles under his successors, the most recent in 2025.
The impact of his work is visible at Alex Box Stadium, renamed in his honor in 2013, a venue that seats roughly 11,000 fans and is routinely packed on game days.
Bertman’s accolades include six Skip Bertman Coach of the Year awards, an Olympic bronze medal as head of the 1996 U.S. team, and induction into both the College Baseball Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Foundation.
After stepping down as coach, he served as LSU’s athletic director from 2001 to 2008, later assuming the title of Athletic Director Emeritus, while Michael Bonnette took over leadership of the department.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Lisa, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape college baseball.
A Legacy That Endures
Tributes have highlighted his indelible mark on the university and the sport, underscoring the deep respect he commanded across generations of players and coaches.