Long after he coached his final game, Joe Etzel could still be found on the University of Portland baseball diamond, helping maintain the field he loved.
Etzel — a former UP student-athlete, baseball and basketball coach, and athletic director (AD) — died at 87 on Dec. 28, 2025, surrounded by family in Portland. He left behind one of the most storied and significant legacies in Pilots history.
Etzel started at UP in 1956 as a two-sport athlete in basketball and baseball. To this day, he still ranks No. 1 in pitching win percentage, No. 2 all-time in ERA and later served 21 seasons as head baseball coach, amassing 378 wins.
In 1970, Etzel started as UP’s AD. Under his leadership, the department expanded from six to 16 varsity men’s and women’s programs and earned 57 West Coast Conference (WCC) championships.
At the time of his retirement, Etzel’s 34 years as AD were the longest tenure from any Division I NCAA athletic director.
Etzel established the University of Portland Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991, which he was inducted into in 1993. Throughout his career he was also honored by the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame and WCC Hall of Honor.
Etzel’s administrative prowess garnered attention from schools like the University of Las Vegas, San Diego, St. Mary’s and the University of Oregon, but his loyalty remained with Portland according to Etzel’s son, Jim Etzel.
“Numerous schools tried to hire him as athletic director, mostly on the West Coast,” Jim Etzel said. “Every one of those places would have paid more money, but Portland was home.”
Etzel throwing the first pitch at the first night game after Joe Etzel Field's light renovations in 2015. Photo Courtesy of Jim Etzel.
The Chiles Center, Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center, Merlo Field and original Pilot Stadium were all constructed with Etzel at the helm.
Formerly known as Pilot Stadium, the baseball diamond was renamed Joe Etzel Field in 2004 to commemorate his contributions to Pilots baseball and the athletic department.
Etzel’s influence on the history of UP athletics is substantial, according to Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam.
“Coach Etzel built this department, we're not in the WCC without [him],” Leykam said. “You talk about the old six degrees of separation ... with Coach Etzel, it's one or two degrees of separation to anyone who has ever had impact on this department.”
Since much of his AD career took place with a smaller athletic staff, Etzel had to be hands-on to keep the department running.
“You would see my dad as the athletic director about an hour before the game pushing a hand truck from Chiles Center out to Merlo Field to the souvenir stand,” Jim Etzel said. “[He would] make four trips, a box stacked up five feet high, and in it were the hats and t-shirts and sweatshirts to sell in the souvenir stand. He had the cash box with everything in it set up.”
Etzel was also hands-on in groundskeeping to maintain the nicest baseball field possible, which he used as a recruitment tool over competing schools, according to Jim Etzel.
“His deal that I learned from is you just embrace what you have resource-wise, and you make the most of what you have and control what you can control,” Jim Etzel said.
Post-retirement, Etzel remained active in the UP community. He attended games as recently as the men’s basketball team’s victory over UC Davis on Nov. 9, according to Leykam.
Etzel at a men's basketball game in 2025 with former Pilots women's basketball assistant coach Kelly Graves. Graves is now the head women's coach at the University of Oregon. Photo Courtesy of Jim Etzel.
Etzel’s legacy of furthering collegiate sports in the Pacific Northwest lives on through Jim, who currently serves as CEO of Sport Oregon, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Oregon sports, particularly for kids.
Etzel was universally loved by his players and peers according to Pilot alum Lou Stremick.
“He wasn't always in the spotlight, but everybody knew who he was and respected him,” Stremick said. “He should have been in the spotlight more, but Joe wasn’t that kind of guy.”
Etzel coached Stremick for four years at Central Catholic High School before recruiting him to UP, where he also coached Stremick in baseball and basketball.
Though he had a quiet demeanor, those who knew Etzel respected his quick wit and listened closely when he spoke.
"I don't think I ever heard him swear, he was sort of like a John Wooden kind of a guy,” Stremick said. “He didn't have to say anything to get your attention.”
After Leykam took over Etzel’s former post in 2012, he formed a close relationship with Etzel. Leykam says he often turned to Etzel for advice, honesty and his sense of humor about the ever-evolving industry.
“This is a business where people don't always shoot you straight, and it takes five minutes to say something that can be said in five words,” Leykam said. “Joe was honest and to the point and very thoughtful.”
Etzel’s funeral mass was held in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on Jan. 7.
Kaeden Souki is the Sports Editor for The Beacon, he can be reached souki28@up.edu.
