Joe Etzel Photos Throughout the Years

PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Portland is deeply saddened to announce that Joe Etzel — beloved former Athletic Director, head baseball coach, and standout student-athlete — passed away on Sunday, December 28, in Portland, surrounded by his family. He was 87.

For nearly half a century, Etzel's name was synonymous with Pilot Athletics. His leadership, vision, and devotion shaped generations of student-athletes and transformed the University's athletics landscape. Over 34 years as Athletic Director, 21 seasons as head baseball coach, and four years as a two-sport student-athlete, Etzel left an enduring legacy unmatched in the University's history.

"Joe Etzel was the foundation upon which modern Pilot Athletics was built," said Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam. "His vision, integrity, and unwavering belief in the power of college athletics shaped this department for more than three decades. Every student-athlete who wears Portland across their chest benefits from the programs, facilities, and culture he created. Joe was a mentor, a leader, and a true steward of the University of Portland. He lived his life with purpose, humility, and service — values at the core of the University of Portland mission. We give thanks for his life and extend our deepest condolences to the Etzel family."

Etzel first arrived on The Bluff in 1956, quickly establishing himself as one of the finest pitchers ever to wear a Pilot uniform. He led Portland to two NCAA Tournament appearances, set the program record for career winning percentage (.741), and still ranks No. 2 all-time in ERA (2.45). He also lettered in basketball before graduating in 1960.

After returning to UP in 1966 to lead the baseball program, Etzel guided the Pilots to 378 victories over a distinguished 21-year coaching career. In 2004, the University honored his impact by renaming Pilot Stadium as Joe Etzel Field, a tribute to the man who elevated the program on and off the diamond.

Etzel's influence expanded even further when he was appointed Athletic Director in 1970. At the time, the department sponsored just six men's varsity sports and employed three coaches. Over the next three decades, Etzel oversaw remarkable growth: expanding to 16 varsity men's and women's programs, guiding Portland into the West Coast Conference in 1976, and supporting national championship success, including the 1985 NAIA women's cross country title and the 2002 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship.

Under his leadership, the Pilots captured 57 WCC championships, while student-athletes excelled academically with 14 Academic All-Americans and five postgraduate scholarship recipients. Etzel also spearheaded major facility enhancements that reshaped the athletics footprint on campus, including the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center, the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center, Harry A. Merlo Field, and the original Pilot Stadium. He also established the University of Portland Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.

Among his most influential decisions was hiring the legendary Clive Charles as men's soccer coach in 1986 and later appointing him as women's head coach in 1989. Under Charles' leadership — supported by the foundation Etzel built — Portland soccer rose to national prominence, capturing two NCAA women's soccer championships (2002, 2005), making 10 combined NCAA College Cup appearances, and producing numerous national team and professional players.

Etzel also cultivated transformative relationships with Earle M. Chiles and Harry A. Merlo, partnerships that reshaped the University's athletics facilities. The Chiles Center, opened in 1984, has served not only as the home of UP Athletics but also as a vital community gathering place for graduations, speakers, concerts, and major events. Merlo Field, widely regarded as one of the nation's premier college soccer venues, has hosted professional and international teams since 1990.

When Etzel retired in 2004, he was the longest-tenured Athletic Director in NCAA Division I. His contributions were recognized widely, including induction into the University of Portland Athletics Hall of Fame (1993), the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame (2007), the NACDA Hall of Fame (2008), and the West Coast Conference Hall of Honor (2010). In 2011, he received the prestigious Gary Cunningham Lifetime Achievement Award from the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association. He also served on the NCAA Executive Committee, the organization's most prestigious decision-making body.

Even in retirement, Etzel remained deeply connected to Pilot Athletics, particularly through fundraising efforts for baseball. His namesake field continued to evolve with significant upgrades, including AstroTurf installation, new fencing, bullpens, a scoreboard, a right-field berm (2014), new lighting (2016), and a major renovation in 2021 featuring new seating, a concourse, press box, ticketing office, dugouts, and a refreshed plaza.

Across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Etzel is remembered as one of the region's most influential figures in collegiate baseball and athletics administration. His legacy endures in the programs he built, the facilities he envisioned, and the countless student-athletes whose lives he shaped.

Etzel was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, a 1962 UP graduate. He is survived by their four children and three grandchildren: Jim (UP '85) and his wife, Carmen; Kathy (UP '86) and her husband, Mike Kollas, and their children, Matthew Kollas (UP '20) and Connor Kollas; Susan (UP '90) and her son, Jack Bauccio; and Tom (UP '96).


Joe Etzel – University of Portland Career Highlights

• Baseball Student-Athlete: 1956–60
• Baseball Head Coach: 1965–86
• Interim Men's Basketball Head Coach: 1969–70
• Athletic Director: 1970–2004
• Portland Joins the West Coast Conference: 1976
• Established UP Athletics Hall of Fame: 1991
• UP Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee: 1993
• Pilot Stadium Renamed Joe Etzel Field: 2004
• University of Portland Honorary Doctorate (Public Service): 2004
• Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Inductee: 2007
• NACDA Hall of Fame Inductee: 2008
• WCC Hall of Honor Inductee: 2010
• Gary Cunningham Lifetime Achievement Award: 2011