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UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS ATHLETICS
Al Ogletree (Pictured Center) helped start intercollegiate athletics at Dallas. Passed away at age 89 on Monday, June 24.
Al Ogletree (Pictured Center) helped start intercollegiate athletics at Dallas. Passed away at age 89 on Monday, June 24.
Posted: Jun 24, 2019

Legendary UD Baseball Coach Al Ogletree Passed Away on Monday

IRVING, Texas – Former University of Dallas Hall of Fame Coach Al Ogletree passed away early Monday, June 24. The legendary UD coach played a prominent role at Dallas, helping start intercollegiate athletics at the university, while coaching the baseball and basketball teams from 1957-65. He was the head basketball coach for three seasons ('57-'60), and the head baseball coach all nine seasons during his tenure at Dallas.

Ogletree, 89, captured the most wins (at the time) over nine seasons at the helm of the baseball program, leading the Crusaders to a 91-87-2 (.511) record in that span. He now ranks fifth in the all-time coaching records.

Ogletree was honored for his efforts with the Dallas programs by being inducted into the first University of Dallas Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 1998. Additional recognition has been given to a pioneer of UD intercollegiate athletics, including retiring his number 44 on November 5, 2011 during a Dallas Baseball Alumni Game. On February 25, 2018, a plaque behind centerfield was dedicated for the remarkable coach that generations of UD baseball players remember for his leadership and kindness.

Read more on the plaque dedication by clicking here.

Ogletree also gave back to the institution where he began his collegiate coaching career by presenting copies of his autobiography Take Two, Hit to Right and Slide Against the Wind, (Published 2008) to the Dallas library and athletics department in 2011.

Ogletree went on to coach at Sul Ross State University from 1966-68 and University of Texas Pan American (Now U.T. Rio Grande Valley) from 1969 to 1997. Upon his retirement Coach Ogletree was the winningest active coach in college baseball with 1,187.

He led Sul Ross to the NAIA National Tournament in 1968 and led UTPA to its first College World Series in 1971 and brought them 12 NCAA tournament appearances. He was named The Sporting News National Coach of the Year in 1971.

Ogletree also was inducted into the Sul Ross Athletics Hall of Fame and was also an inaugural inductee into the UTPA Athletics Hall of Fame like at Dallas. Overall, Ogletree has been inducted into nine halls of fame; the most prestigious of these is the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.