Don Kirsch (September 29, 1920 – May 7, 1970) was the heart and soul of the Oregon Duck’s baseball program for three decades before passing away too soon at the age of 49.
Born in Portland in 1920, Kirsch played baseball and basketball at Jefferson High and was all-league in both sports. The Demos won three PIL championships with DK at second base.
He moved to the University of Oregon and played baseball and basketball under coach Howard Hobson from 1940-43. The Ducks won Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division titles in ’41-43. Following two years of service in the Army, which ended with a medical discharge, Kirsch played semi-pro baseball and coached basketball and baseball at Hillsboro High.
In 1948, Oregon hired Kirsch to lead the baseball program at age 27. In the following 23 years, Kirsch led the Ducks to an average of 19 wins per season and a .651 winning percentage. Oregon won the Northern Division title five times and advanced to the College World Series in 1954, the school’s first appearance. Kirsch mentored five All-Americans: Earl Averill, George Shaw, Terry Maddox and Larry Hanson.
Kirsch retired from coaching in 1970 to battle Parkinson’s Disease and passed away shortly after.. The University of Oregon created the Don Kirsch Memorial Award in 1972 to honor his legacy, which included being an assistant coach for the Oregon men’s basketball team. His son, Paul also played for Oregon and spent 26 seasons of baseball as player, coach, manager and scout.
Don Kirsch is a member of the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame, the PIL Athletics Hall of Fame and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.