EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is saddened to announce that legendary baseball head coach emeritus and Hall of Famer Al Ogletree passed away on Monday at the age of 89.
 
The viewing will take place on Sunday from 4-to-6 p.m., with the rosary at 7 p.m., at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 2201 Martin Ave. in McAllen.

The Hidalgo County Commissioner's Court will be issuing a proclamation in honor of Coach Al's life on Monday at 9:50 a.m. at 100 E. Cano St. in Edinburg.
 
Services are scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Burial will immediately follow services and take place at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, which is located at 2520 S Inspiration Rd. in Mission.

UTRGV Athletics will celebrate the life of Ogletree during a special ceremony prior to the opening night homecoming game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 at 7 p.m. the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
 
"Coach Ogletree was a remarkable man and a terrific baseball coach," UTRGV President Dr. Guy Bailey said. "People from all over the state and nation knew and respected him. When I accepted the job here, one of my first calls was from a friend in Lubbock who had played for Texas Tech and against Coach's Pan American University teams. He said, 'Coach Ogletree's teams were always tough but he was always a gentleman. You will love meeting him.' My friend could not have been more right."
 
In 29 years as the head coach of the baseball team from 1968-97, Al Ogletree, or as he's better known, "Coach Al," compiled a record of 1,084-618-1 (.637) while leading the team to 13 NCAA Regionals and one College World Series. He retired in 1997 with 1,217 career wins, and currently stands as the 34^th winningest coach in NCAA history.
 
In 1971, Coach Al led his team to a 44-9 record and a fourth place finish at the College World Series. At season's end, The Sporting News named him as the nation's Coach of the Year. He received the honor from his colleagues in the NCAA District VI, the Texas Sports Writers' Association and the South Plains Professional Scouts Association as well.
 
"Coach wasn't a legend. He was the real deal," said Hall of Famer Gary Doyle, who pitched for the team from 1971-72. "I told him wherever I was, if he ever need me, I would be there as fast as I could. Everyone felt that way about him. He was the most loyal person I've ever known. He was the closest thing to a second dad that anybody could be. I came down to play for Coach Ogletree. I turned down bigger name opportunities just to play for him. For me, it wasn't the wins or going to the College World Series that are my favorite memories, it was being with him."
 
He produced 23 MLB Draft Picks, three of whom reached the big leagues, and 175 future coaches, including his successor, Reggie Tredaway, current Seattle Mariners first base and infield coach Perry Hill, and former Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey.
 
Coach Al was a legend in the collegiate world of baseball for over five decades, and his hard work and dedication to the baseball program was recognized when he became an inaugural member of the Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2007.
 
Coach Al was inducted into eight other Halls of Fame around the State of Texas:
•Austin High School Hall of Fame
•Texas A&M Hall of Fame
•American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
•The Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame
•Central Texas Semi-Pro Hall of Fame
•University of Dallas Collegiate Hall of Fame
•Sul Ross State Hall of Fame
•Texas Sports Hall of Fame
 
Al and his wife, Joann, were married for 62 years when Joann passed away at the age of 83 on May 21, 2014. In addition to caring for their five children, Joann mentored many young couples while serving as a matriarch for the baseball team.
 
The Ogletrees founded the Al and Joann Ogletree Scholarship Endowment, which is comprised of over 130 donors.
 
To honor their legacy, UTRGV Athletics opened the Coach Al and Joann Ogletree Plaza in 2017. The objective is to honor the pride, legacy and tradition the Ogletree family has instilled in the athletic department.
 
"Coach Ogletree is one of those rare individual coaches that comes along in your life and when you look back, you realize that you'll never have another man like that in your life as a coach, as a friend, and as a mentor," said Hall of Famer Jack Ewing, who pitched for the team from 1975-76. "Coach Ogletree was just a genuine quality human being. He left his mark on countless young men. He was loved by many and he'll be missed, but his legacy will live on as long as they're playing baseball at the university. Coach Ogletree forever left his mark on the program. I love him and countless others do because of the impact he had on all of our lives."
 
The Ogletrees are survived by five children: Margaret (Joe) Williamson, Alfred "Bud" (Melinda) Ogletree, Laura (Jorge) Garcia, Tom (Lety) Ogletree, and Dan (Laura) Ogletree; 13 grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

The impact of the Ogletrees will last forever and they are greatly missed.

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