Story perspectives

Stanley “Skip” Bertman Dies at 88

8/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Stanley “Skip” Bertman, former LSU baseball coach and athletic director, died at 1:12 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, aged 88.
He coached LSU 1984-2001, winning five College World Series titles and posting an 870-330-3 record, the highest NCAA-tournament winning percentage.
Bertman was LSU’s athletic director from 2001-2008, oversaw Alex Box Stadium’s renovation whose field bears his name, and was inducted into the inaugural College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

History

Historical Context

Originating in 1947 at Kalamazoo, the College World Series adopted an eight-team double-elimination format when it moved to Omaha in 1950 and kept that structure through 1975, when the NCAA reaffirmed it. The tournament’s profile grew, prompting the NCAA to expand the overall field to 64 teams in 1999, underscoring its lasting national appeal.

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Story summary

Stanley “Skip” Bertman, former LSU baseball coach and athletic director, died at 1:12 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, aged 88.
He coached LSU 1984-2001, winning five College World Series titles and posting an 870-330-3 record, the highest NCAA-tournament winning percentage.
Bertman was LSU’s athletic director from 2001-2008, oversaw Alex Box Stadium’s renovation whose field bears his name, and was inducted into the inaugural College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

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