J. Stanley “Skip” Bertman, who guided LSU baseball to five national championships before enjoying a seven-year run as the school’s athletic director, died Friday. He was 88.
As a coach, Bertman led the Tigers to national championships in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000. Only two other coaches have won five Men’s College World Series national titles. During an 18-season tenure that began in 1984 and concluded in 2001, he oversaw 11 MCWS appearances and authored an 870-330-3 record.
Current LSU head coach Jay Johnson, responsible for piloting the vaunted program to its two most recent national championships, wrote in a statement on Friday that Bertman is “the greatest college baseball coach” of his lifetime. He explained how he treasures the relationship he forged with Bertman in his five years at the helm.
“The mentorship, and most importantly, the friendship we built is easily one of the best, most rewarding, and special relationships I have ever had,” Johnson said in the statement.
He noted: “Coach Bertman was so far ahead of his time while leading the LSU Tigers, and as a young coach just starting my journey, I watched, studied and admired his incredible skills of leading, motivating, teaching, coahcing and ultimately cultivating what became ‘The Powerhouse’ of college baseball.
“Being able to share the 2023 and 2025 national championships with Coach Bertman watching is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. The impact he made and legacy he has left on the state of Louisana and college baseball is beyond remarkable and will never be duplicated.”
A statement from Head Coach Jay Johnson on Skip Bertman's passing. pic.twitter.com/MaVLhWFnkD
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) August 14, 2026
Throughout Bertman’s time as AD, he hired four coaches who went on to win national titles as well. That group included head football coach Les Miles and head baseball coach Paul Mainieri.
Miles spearheaded the Tigers on the gridiron for 12 seasons from 2005-16. In the process, he took them to BCS national championship games. In their first appearance, they brought home the title, defeating Ohio State at the end of the 2007 season.
Mainieri, meanwhile, returned LSU to prominence shortly after Bertman’s administrative stint, orchestrating their MCWS title in 2009.
“Few people have had a greater impact on LSU than Skip Bertman," LSU current AD Verge Ausberry said in a statement on Friday.
"As the greatest college baseball coach of all time, and later as our athletics director, Skip developed a championship standard and culture that still guide us today. Personally, he was a dear friend, mentor and advisor, and I’m forever grateful for the trust and faith he placed in me to serve this institution. I will continue to honor Skip by leaning into the lessons he taught me every day.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this time.”
This story is being updated.