“Anything you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon, must, absolutely must, come to pass.”
Skip Bertman
1938-2026

Paul Mainieri, Former LSU Baseball Coach and Player
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.

Ron Polk, former Mississippi State & Georgia Baseball Coach
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.

Mike Bianco, Ole Miss Baseball Coach, former LSU Player & Asst. Coach
When asked about “Skip” Bertman … Where do you start? Maybe at the end. He’s the G.O.A.T. From coach, to AD, to Ambassador for college athletics – there are very few, if any, you could even mention in the same breath. He has impacted countless lives. I know I speak for many when I say, I would not be where I am today without Coach.

Ray Tanner, former South Carolina Baseball Coach and AD
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.

Dave Van Horn, Arkansas Baseball Coach (2003-present)
“Skip” Bertman was truly a gift to college baseball. One-of-a-kind and way ahead of his time, he was a special guy. I always loved my conversations with him in Baton Rouge when we were playing LSU on the road. He was funny – a great joke and storyteller – but in the dugout, he was a master motivator. His players played extremely hard for him, and he turned LSU into one of the top programs in the country.

Norm DeBriyn, former Arkansas Baseball Coach (1970-2002)
“Skip” Bertman was the absolute best. Just a wonderful person and a tremendous coach. He had a vision, and he accomplished that. He built LSU into a dynasty. It was a covenant that he formed with his players. They bought in, and the proof is in the pudding. He knew the game inside and out, but his ability to motivate was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

Jay Johnson, current LSU Baseball Coach
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 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.

Tributes compiled by LSU Athletics at lsusports.net