RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The City of Edinburg unveiled a new street sign on Monday at the corner of Sugar Rd. and Schunior St. declaring the portion of Sugar Rd. between University Dr. and Schunior St. as "Coach Al Ogletree Way" in honor of the winningest coach in the history of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley baseball program.
 
Al Ogletree, or as he's better known, "Coach Al," was a legendary figure who shaped generations of student-athletes and brought national attention to the Valley throughout his outstanding tenure.
 
"This day has been a long time coming," Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. said. "We've been talking to a lot of alumni, people at the university, and people in the community about Coach Al Ogletree and the impact that he had here not just at our university, but in the community. We felt Coach Al deserved recognition for all he did. Coach Al was more than just a legendary coach; he was a builder of people. He took young men and turned them into leaders at high standards not just for performance, but for character, discipline, and teamwork. He believed that success wasn't only by wins and championships, but how you carried yourself and how you treated others. His leadership has left a lasting mark that continues to shape the culture of UTRGV Athletics and inspire new generations of student-athletes."
 
In 29 years as the head coach of the baseball team from 1968-97, 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 and currently stands in the top 40 in winningest coaches in NCAA history with 1,208 wins including his time at Dallas (1958-65) and Sul Ross State (1966-68).
 
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. Coach Al 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.
 
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's] legacy is not just the teams… it's [our current team] as well. It's [Coach Matlock] as well. That legacy is what enables us to build strong programs down into the future," UTRGV President Dr. Guy Bailey said. "He was truly a remarkable man. We were blessed to have him here for the number of years he was here. He created a tradition. The way we honor him is by continuing that tradition. "
 
"I've talked to a lot players from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and the message was clear – Coach Al was a winner, and you can tell that by his record, but he was also loved and respected by his players, coaches that he competed against, and this community," current UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock said. "He never blamed his players for losing. He took full responsibility and said it was his fault and he wished he could have done something better to help the kids win. It was unbelievable how he took the pressure off players. In my time here, we've had a lot of great players on campus in recruiting and playing, and it's funny how their dads all talk about Coach Al. They all remember him and the legacy of this program. The school's name, colors, and mascot have changed, but the legacy of Coach Ogletree is ingrained in this baseball program's culture."
 
"Most people know about Coach Al's incredible career, but what made Coach Al truly special wasn't what he accomplished, but how he did it and who he did it with," said Rick Villareal, who played for Coach Al from 1983-85. "Coach Ogletree brought together young men from all walks of life from all over the country and Canada and turned us all into a family. We played for him and each other. Most of us were from far away from home and Coach Al Ogletree became like a father figure to many of us. He didn't just coach baseball, he taught us how to be men. He prepared us for life after baseball. His leadership, his integrity, and his heart touched everyone."
 
Coach Al's contributions earned him induction into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. He was recognized by legacy institution UTPA 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 and 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.

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