Posted: Jul 30, 2020

Legendary COC Baseball Coach Mike Gillespie Dies at 80

Uploaded: , Thursday, Jul 30, 2020

By College of the Canyons

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

Legendary longtime College of the Canyons baseball head coach Mike Gillespie, who launched the Cougars baseball program and led the program to three state titles before winning an NCAA National Championship with USC and later reestablishing the baseball program at UC Irvine, passed on July 29, 2020. He was 80.

Gillespie, who also taught English, physical education and health sciences at COC, guided the Cougars on the diamond for 16 seasons (1971-1986). He also served as COC’s athletic director from 1977 to 1986, and was a quarterback coach in the early days of COC’s football program.

Affectionately referred to as ‘Skip,’ Gillespie’s respect for the game, baseball acumen, and attention to detail drew the love and respect of his college baseball peers, former players, students and faculty colleagues alike, and also proved to be a winning combination on the field.