Stanley “Skip” Bertman, the former LSU baseball coach and athletic director credited with elevating the university’s baseball program to national prominence, died early Friday at the age of 88. He passed away at a hospital in Baton Rouge, LSU officials confirmed.

Bertman, a Miami native, took the helm of LSU’s baseball team in 1983 when the program had yet to claim a national championship. Over the course of a decade, he guided the Tigers to five national titles, transforming the team into a dominant force in college baseball. His leadership laid the foundation for a program known today for producing numerous Major League Baseball prospects.

LSU Athletic Director Verge Ausberry described Bertman as “the greatest college baseball coach of all time” and credited him with establishing a lasting culture of championship excellence within LSU athletics. His influence extended beyond the field; Bertman also served as LSU’s athletic director.

In recognition of his contributions, the field at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium—opened in 2009 with a capacity of approximately 11,000—was named in his honor in 2013. Current LSU coach Jay Johnson, who led the Tigers to national titles in 2023 and 2025, spoke of Bertman’s enduring impact. Johnson said he studied and admired Bertman’s ability to inspire, teach, and build what became one of college baseball’s premier programs, calling his legacy “beyond remarkable” and unlikely to be duplicated.

Bertman’s coaching career began after he played college baseball in Miami. He initially coached at the high school level in Miami Beach before joining the University of Miami as an assistant under Ron Fraser. He also served as head coach of the 1996 United States Olympic baseball team, which competed with amateur players and won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Games.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Lisa.