AUSTIN, TX-- After being hospitalized on Tuesday due to a stroke, Augie Garrido, the winningest coach in college baseball and Texas Longhorn legend, passed away at age 79 in California.
"This is a very, very sad day,” said UT Athletic Director Chris Del Conte in a statement on Thursday. “We lost one of the greatest coaches of all time, a truly special Longhorn Legend and college athletics icon. There will never be another Augie Garrido. He was a once-in-a-lifetime personality whose impact on Texas Athletics, collegiate baseball and the student-athletes he coached extended far beyond the playing field. If you were fortunate enough to have spent time with Augie, or if you followed him in any way, he had a great effect on you with his brilliant combination of wisdom, wit, and charm. He was just an incredible coach, molder of men and a great person. He will be missed, but the memories of him and his awesome accomplishments will carry on forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Jeannie, and his family.”
Garrido posted a 1,975-951-9 all-time record during his 48 year coaching career.
The longtime Longhorn led UT and Cal. State Fullerton to National Championships. He won three championships with Fullerton in 1979, 1984 and 1995 and two with UT in 2002 and 2005.
The six-time Big 12 Coach of the Year led the Longhorns to seven conference championships in the old Southwest Conference and the Big 12.
Garrido was known for his small-ball philosophy where the Longhorns would manufacture runs without utilizing many extra-base hits. Garrido demanded this, even from his best players, to teach the importance of sacrificing for the good of his team.
Augie was the 11th manager of the Longhorn baseball team.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: