Hall of Fame Missouri baseball coach Gene McArtor dies at 83

Former longtime Missouri baseball coach Gene McArtor died on Sunday, the school announced. He was 83.

McArtor, whom the McArtor Baseball Facility is named after, spent 21 seasons as head coach of the Tigers, where he won two Big Eight championships in 1976 and 1980, respectively.

After retiring from coaching, the Hall of Fame baseball coach was also spent time as Missouri’s senior associate director of athletics, director of project management and later as interim director of athletics.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gene McArtor, a true Mizzou legend,” MU Director of Athletics Laird Veatch said, via the release. “Gene’s dedication to our baseball program as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach, and his unwavering commitment to the University of Missouri, left an indelible mark on our program and athletics department.

His leadership, integrity and passion for Mizzou as a player, coach and administrator were truly remarkable. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time. Gene’s legacy will forever be part of Mizzou Athletics.”

Not only was McArtor a pivotal figure for Mizzou on the coaching and administration end of things — but he also attended and played first base for the Tigers in the 1960s. He played on two Big Eight Conference championship rosters, both of which played at the College World Series.

Later in life as the head coach, he had one losing season in 21 years in Columbia where he compiled a 733-430-3 record. He also coached 13 All-Americans and 41 all-conference players during his time with the Tigers.

“We have lost one of the all-time Tiger greats in Coach Mac,” current Mizzou baseball coach Kerrick Jackson stated. “His impact on this program, the University and our game is second to none. His guidance and mentorship will be missed by all who were privileged to be in his presence. I truly cherished our conversations and his leadership.

“The toughness and discipline on which his program was built were elements he fully embraced and believed in, and it is our goal to continue that tradition and make him proud.”

He was inducted into the MU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and later into the Missouri State Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a member of the ABCA, Webster Groves High School and Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fames.

It’s unclear how the Tigers plan to honor the legacy of their late head coach during the 2025 college baseball season.