TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES
The following are statements from some of the people who knew and admired LSU baseball coach/athletic director Skip Bertman the most. Bertman passed away at age 88 on Friday morning.
“Few people have had a greater impact on LSU than Skip Bertman. 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.”
... LSU Athletic Director and neighbor of Bertman, Verge Ausberry.
“By far the greatest part of being the baseball coach at LSU the last five years is the relationship I was able to build with the greatest college baseball coach of my lifetime, Skip Bertman. The mentorship, and most importantly, the friendship we built is easily one of the best, most rewarding, and special relationships I have ever had. What an honor it has been to sit with, talk baseball with, smile with, and laugh with Coach.
“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, coaching, 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 Louisiana and college baseball is beyond remarkable and will never be duplicated.
“I love you Coach, I will miss you, and will continue to work every day in a manner that I know would make you proud.”
… LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson.
“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 Paul Mainieri, whom Bertman as athletic director hired as baseball coach before the 2007 season.
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