Skip Bertman, a five-time College World Series champion coach at Louisiana State University, died Friday at the age of 88, the school announced. The cause of death was not immediately provided.

Bertman is widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in college baseball history. During his tenure with the LSU Tigers from 1984 to 2001, he guided the program to 16 NCAA Tournaments and 11 College World Series appearances. The Tigers secured national championships under his leadership in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 2000.

His coaching record at LSU included 870 wins against 330 losses and three ties, resulting in a .724 winning percentage. Within the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Bertman's teams captured six tournament titles and nine SEC Western Division championships. He earned National Coach of the Year honors six times and was named SEC Coach of the Year on seven occasions. Throughout his career, Bertman coached 41 players who went on to play in Major League Baseball.

Beyond his collegiate success, Bertman also contributed to the U.S. Olympic baseball program, serving as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 1988 team and as head coach for the bronze medal-winning 1996 team.

His impact on the sport led to his induction into numerous halls of fame, including the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2002), the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (2003), the College Baseball Hall of Fame (2006), and the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame (2011).

Current LSU coach Jay Johnson, who succeeded Bertman, expressed admiration for his predecessor, stating that Bertman was "so far ahead of his time" and created a "championship standard and culture" at LSU. Johnson noted that Bertman's legacy on Louisiana and college baseball "will never be duplicated."

Following his coaching career, Bertman served as LSU's athletic director for seven years, from 2001 to 2008. In that role, he hired four coaches who subsequently won national championships.

Bertman is survived by his three daughters and four grandchildren. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry described Bertman as a "legend" who "changed a standard forever" and left individuals "better than he found them."