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Tributes to LSU Baseball Legend Skip BertmanTributes to LSU Baseball Legend Skip Bertman

A statue in honor of Skip Bertman was dedicated on Sept. 13, 2019, at Alex Box Stadium.n

Tributes to LSU Baseball Legend Skip Bertman

LSU Athletics would like to thank all who share their stories about the impact coach Skip Bertman had on their lives. Coach Bertman passed away early on the morning of Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.

Additional tributes will be added here when published.

Baseball Paul Mainieri Retirement Photo by: Chris Parent

"Today is a big loss for the city of Baton Rouge, the state of Louisiana, and the country. Skip Bertman had such a profound impact on so many people, even if you didn't know him personally. For those of us that were lucky enough to know him and were part of his life, it's almost impossible to put into words what he meant to us.

"In my case, everyone knows he was the athletic director that brought me to LSU. But actually, I've known Skip since I was 11 years old. Our families were very close while we lived in Miami. I've idolized him for almost my whole life and wanted to grow up and be a coach like he was. As a close friend and confidant, he was always there with advice and encouragement for me. When I came to LSU, I said that I had only one goal as the custodian of the program that Skip built - and that was to make Skip proud!

"There is a new hole in my heart today that hurts so much. However, I'm going to try and remember just how grateful and lucky I was to have had Skip in my life for as long as I did." 
- Former LSU Baseball Coach and Player Paul Mainieri

“It’s a sad day. Skip and I have been friends for about 60 years. We almost grew up together in Miami. He was the first baseman on my fast pitch softball team, and I’ve known him and Sandy forever. We roomed together for three whole summers on tour with the USA Baseball team. Over the years, we’ve probably done 50 or 60 clinics together all over the country. We played 70 games against each other and went 35-35 while I was at Georgia and Mississippi State. I’ve been a part of his life, and he’s been a part of mine for all of our coaching careers. I’ve got so many great stories about Skip and I’m going to miss him.”
- Ron Polk, former Mississippi State, Georgia Baseball Coach
“Coach Bertman had a tremendous impact on me. I was fortunate to spend a couple of summers with him with USA Baseball, and I learned a great deal from that experience. He made LSU the benchmark for college baseball and shared lessons that helped us build a national championship program at South Carolina. His impact went far beyond LSU. He cared about other coaches, shared his knowledge and helped them build successful programs. By investing in others, Coach Bertman helped elevate college baseball and shape the game into what it is today.”
- Ray Tanner, former South Carolina Baseball Head Coach, Athletics Director