Alex Box stadium field named for Skip Bertman

BATON ROUGE - The LSU Board of Supervisors on Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal from the LSU Athletic Department to name the baseball field at Alex Box Stadium after legendary baseball coach Skip Bertman.

The field will be called "Skip Bertman Field" and the name of the stadium remains "Alex Box Stadium" in honor of the former LSU student, baseball player, Purple Heart and Distinguished Cross recipient who was killed in North Africa during World War II. The recommendation to name the field for Bertman came from the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Election Board which recommends honors for former coaches and student-athletes.

The Athletic Department plans to dedicate the field the final weekend of the 2013 regular season against when the Tigers play Ole Miss in conjunction with a 20-year reunion of Bertman's 1993 national championship team.

Bertman helped grow interest in the sport of baseball from an average attendance of less than 500 fans per game in 1983 to now become the annual NCAA attendance leader of more than 10,000 fans per game in a new stadium constructed under his direction as athletic director.

In 18 seasons as head coach at LSU (1983-2001), he led the Tigers to five National Championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000) and seven Southeastern Conference Championships. He finished his career with a total record of 870-330-3.

Bertman took LSU to 11 College World Series appearances, 16 NCAA Tournament appearances and he coached 31 LSU players who reached Major League Baseball. He was named National Coach of the Year six times (1986, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000) and SEC Coach of the Year seven times (1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997).

He represented LSU on the international stage as well, serving as assistant coach on several USA national teams and the 1988 US Olympic Gold Medal Team, and was head coach of the 1996 US Olympic Team in Atlanta that won the Bronze Medal.

Bertman also served as Director of Athletics at LSU from 2001-08, directing one of the greatest periods of facility growth and athletic accomplishments in the history of the institution.

Bertman is a member of the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Upon his retirement as baseball coach, his No. 15 jersey was retired at LSU.

Throughout his career and to this day, Bertman remains a pillar of the Baton Rouge community, serving on numerous philanthropic organizations such as United Way, Cancer Services and the Alzheimer's Association and he has been honored by the likes of the Arthritis Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America and the Anti-Defamation League.