Legendary college baseball coach Mark Marquess has died, Stanford University has announced. He was 78.
Marquess was the head coach at Stanford for 41 seasons, leading the program from 1977 to 2017.
During that time, the Cardinal won a pair of national championships and reached the College World Series 14 times.
“This man was Stanford baseball,” Cardinal head coach David Esquer said. “He was my coach, and like a father to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. This is a great loss for the Stanford community, the Stanford baseball family and myself. I love that man.”
In addition to leading the Stanford program, Mark Marquess also served as the head coach of USA Baseball, leading the team to a gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
Marquess also served as the president of USA Baseball from 1989 to 1998.
“Mark Marquess was a true baseball legend and someone who had an incredible impact on building the foundation of USA Baseball,” USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler said. “His influence — both on the field and off — cannot be overstated.
“Leading the United States to its first Olympic gold medal in baseball was a historic achievement that reflected the extraordinary baseball mind and leadership he demonstrated throughout his career.”
Marquess finished his time at Stanford with a record of 1,627-878-7.
He is a member of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame and the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
Prior to coaching at Stanford, Marquess played for the Cardinal. He was an All-American in college who helped Stanford to the College World Series. After his college career, Marquess signed to play professional baseball with the Chicago White Sox before beginning his coaching career.