The Day

Five-time NCAA champion Garrido dies

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Wherever Augie Garrido went in his six decades in college baseball, wins and championsh­ips always followed.

His ability to motivate and innovate produced five College World Series titles with two schools and the most wins of any coach in college baseball history.

"I coached against him and watched hundreds and hundreds of other coaches, and he's the best I've ever seen," said Skip Bertman, the retired coach who won five national titles at LSU.

Garrido, who had been hospitaliz­ed in California following a stroke on Sunday, died Thursday. He was 79. The University of Texas, where Garrido wrapped up his career in 2016, announced his death. "We lost one of the greatest coaches of all time, a truly special Longhorn legend and college athletics icon," athletic director Chris Del Conte said. "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."

Garrido won three national championsh­ips with Cal State Fullerton in 1979, 1984 and 1995. He also won titles at Texas in 2002 and 2005. He stepped away from coaching two years ago and was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame the same year. His 1,975 career wins date to 1969.

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