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 38th 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.
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, who passed away on June 24, 2019 at the age of 89, 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.
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.
