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Legendary college baseball coach Mark Marquess died Friday, Stanford University announced. He was 78 years old.
Marquess was in the Cardinal dugout for 41 years. He led Stanford to back-to-back national championships in college baseball in 1987 and 1988. He retired from the sport in 2017 and is No. 4 on college baseball’s all-time wins list with a record of 1,627-878-7.
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Stanford Cardinal head coach Mark Marquess gives instructions during batting practice before the game against the California Golden Bears at Sunken Diamond on April 22, 2009. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
“This man was Stanford baseball,” current Stanford head coach David Esquer said in a statement. “He was my coach and like a father to me. I would not be where I am today without him. This is a great loss to the Stanford community, the Stanford baseball family and myself. I love this man.”
Marquess was affectionately nicknamed “9” because of the iconic No. 9 jersey he wore in the dugout.
“We are deeply saddened and mourn the passing of Mark Marquess,” Stanford athletic director John Donahoe said in a statement. “‘9’ was a true icon in every sense of the word and an ambassador for Stanford University. His contributions to the development of young men, on and off the field, were always at the forefront. ‘9’ impacted countless lives in so many ways and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.”
Stanford Cardinal head coach Mark Marquess (9) and Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Martin (11) meet with the referees before the first game of the Tallahassee Super Regional at Dick Howser Stadium on June 8, 2012. (Melina Vastola/USA TODAY Sports)
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Marquess was anchored at Stanford from the start of his college career. He played baseball and football for Stanford when he arrived on campus in 1965. He went on to win NCAA Coach of the Year three times and Pac-10 Coach of the Year nine times.
Under Marquess’ leadership, Stanford made 30 NCAA tournament appearances, six NCAA Super Regionals and won 18 regional championships. He has been inducted into the Stanford Sports Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame and the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
Stanford coach Mark Marquess smiles before practice at Sunken Diamond in Stanford, California on March 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, file)
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He played in the Chicago White Sox organization from 1969 to 1973, reaching the Triple-A level. He was the head coach of USA baseball when the Americans won the gold medal in 1988.
