Legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman, who transformed the Tigers into a national powerhouse, died Friday morning at the age of 88. Bertman led LSU to five national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000) in 11 College World Series appearances after taking over the program in 1984. His teams amassed an 870-330-3 record and won seven SEC titles. Bertman's players achieved a remarkable success rate, with more than 75% of his MCWS teams winning their games, the highest percentage in NCAA history.

Bertman was a seven-time national coach of the year and was inducted into the inaugural College Baseball Hall of Fame class in 2006. His No. 15 jersey was retired by LSU, and Skip Bertman Drive was named in his honor. He also served as LSU's athletic director from 2001, overseeing a department that celebrated multiple national titles, including football championships.

Beyond LSU, Bertman coached the U.S. Olympic baseball team, winning gold in 1988 and bronze in 1996. He was voted the second-greatest college baseball coach of the 20th century in a 1999 Baseball America poll. Bertman's legacy includes 41 former players who reached the major leagues. He is remembered as a visionary leader who established a championship standard at LSU.