Mike Gillespie Wiki – Biography
Mike Gillespie was an American college baseball coach. He served as the head coach at UC Irvine and head coach at USC from 1987 to 2006. He led USC to the 1998 College World Series championship, having previously won it as a player in 1961.
Gillespie started his coaching career at the College of the Canyons, a California junior college. He started the school’s baseball program in spring 1971 after the school’s fall 1969 founding. In sixteen seasons as head coach, he had a 420–167 record.
Gillespie posted a 763–471–2 (.618) record as the coach of USC. In addition to the 1998 championship, he led USC to the CWS in 1995, 2000, and 2001, with the 1995 team advancing to the title game. In 2005, 13 former players coached by Gillespie were playing in Major League Baseball, while six of his former players were All-Stars (including Mark Prior, Barry Zito, Aaron Boone, Bret Boone, and Geoff Jenkins in 2003, and Morgan Ensberg in 2005). He resigned from USC on June 2, 2006.
Gillespie also played baseball at USC under coach Rod Dedeaux and was a member of the 1961 College World Series champions. Along with Jerry Kindall, he is one of only two individuals who have both played for and coached a College World Series champion. He was succeeded as USC’s head coach by Chad Kreuter, a former major league catcher who is also married to Gillespie’s daughter Kelly.
After his resignation from USC in 2006, Gillespie briefly coached the Staten Island Yankees for one season in 2007, a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.
In 2008, Gillespie took the head coaching job at UC Irvine. He coached UC Irvine for 11 seasons, retiring after 2018. While there, he compiled a 393-249 record and had one appearance in the College World Series in 2014.
Mike Gillespie Age
Michael Gillespie was 80 years old. He was born on May 7, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, United States. He died on July 29, 2020.
Wife
Mike Gillespie was married to his wife, Barbara Gillespie.
Children
Mike Gillespie and his wife, Barbara Gillespie, have four children, Kelly, Mitch, Matt, and Tiffany.
Family
Mike Gillespie and his wife, Barbara Gillespie, have four children, Kelly, Mitch, Matt, and Tiffany, and have three grandchildren, Cade, Cole, and Samantha. Gillespie’s daughter Kelly is married to Chad Kreuter, a former major league catcher.
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Cause of Death
Mike Gillespie died at his home in Irvine on July 29, 2020, at the age of 80. Mike Gillespie’s cause of death has not been revealed. USC Baseball tweeted: “The #TrojanFamily and college baseball world lost a giant today with the passing of legendary coach Mike Gillespie.”
UC Irvine Director of Athletics Paula Smith said in a statement: “On behalf of UCI Athletics Department, I want to offer heartfelt condolences to Coach Gillespie’s wife, Barbara, his children, Kelly, Mitch, Matt, and Tiffany; his grandchildren and his extended family. Mike was a leader, mentor, successful coach, and trusted colleague. We have lost a great baseball coach and an even better man. He touched so many lives and he will be missed by many.”
UC Irvine head coach Ben Orloff – who played for and coached alongside Gillespie – said in a statement: “Today has been tough. There are not enough words to describe Coach Gillespie. He is among the greatest coaches in the history of college baseball. He was larger than life figure on and off the field. Anyone that had an opportunity to be around him is better because of it. He means so much to me personally. I’ve been so lucky to spend the time I have around him in the last seven years. He’s made and continues to make me a better person and coach. I have kept his nameplate in his office that I now occupy as a reminder of what it means to be a coach and to constantly try to make him proud.”
Chicago Tribune Cubs reporter Mark Gonzales tweeted: “Terribly saddened by passing of Mike Gillespie, coach of 1998 CWS champion USC Trojans. Produced dozens of major leaguers from the College of Canyons, USC, and UC Irvine, and made people around him better people. RIP No. 19 ✌️”
Net Worth
Mike Gillespie’s net worth was estimated to be $2 million.