Skip Bertman has passed away.
The legendary LSU baseball skipper, who transformed the Tigers into a national powerhouse, passed away early Friday morning. WAFB-TV and Tiger Rag were among the media outlets to first report Bertman’s passing. He was 88 years old.
Bertman would lead LSU’s baseball program for 18 seasons (1984-2001), during which the Tigers achieved unprecedented success. Under Bertman, LSU advanced to Omaha for the College World Series 11 times, winning five national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000), and seven Southeastern Conference championships.
Bertman retired with a 870-330-3 overall record, was named SEC Coach of the Year seven times, Baseball America Coach of the Year twice and Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year five times.
Bertman was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and LSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. He was also elected to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003 and the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
After retiring as baseball coach, Bertman would serve as LSU’s Athletic Director for eight more years.
Bertman arrived at LSU in the summer of 1983 after a successful stint as an assistant coach for the University of Miami, where he helped the Hurricanes win a national title in 1982.
He took over a program that had not been to the NCAA postseason in nearly a decade, and had eight consecutive losing seasons from 1965 to 1981. It didn’t take Bertman long to turn things around.
In his third season at the helm, LSU made it to Omaha and made return trips in 1987, 1989, 1990 and then broke through with the first national title in 1991.
The Tigers were especially great when it mattered the most.
When he retired, Bertman held an NCAA-best 20-2 record on championship day of NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals and national championship games. He was also 90-31 in NCAA postseason play, and his postseason winning percentage of .743 was also an NCAA record when he retired.