The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is mourning the loss of longtime baseball coach Cliff Gustafson, a school-issued press release said.
Gustafson, who helmed the Longhorns program from 1968 to 1996 and brought a pair of national titles to Austin, died on Monday at the age of 91, the university said.
“A true Texas legend will be missed but never forgotten,” UT Athletics Director Chris Del Conte tweeted.
Per the release, Gustafson crafted a 1,466-377 record as the Longhorns’ skipper.
Aside from the 1975 and 1983 College World Series (CWS) triumphs, the release said, he led UT to a record 17 CWS berths and 22 Southwest Conference (SWC) championships.
The university added that Gustafson is a member of several halls of fame, including the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor.
Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported that Gustafson came to UT nearly 50 years ago after coaching prep ball in San Antonio.
The station reported that he still occupies the seventh spot on the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) list for most wins.
“The historic run he had in building on the great legacy of our baseball program will never be forgotten, and the stature he took it to continues to this day,” Longhorns associate head coach Tommy Harmon, who played for Gustafson, said of his mentor in the school’s release.
Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported that Gustafson died from congestive heart failure with his daughters, Jann and Jill, at his bedside.
He suffered a heart attack two years ago, according to KVUE.
Gov. Greg Abbott was among the many people who paid tribute to Gustafson.
“Cecilia and I send our deepest condolences to the Gustafson family,” Abbott tweeted, echoing the “Texas legend” superlative associated with the coach.
