No name is more notable in the history of University of Portland athletics than Joe Etzel (June 20, 1938-December 28, 2025).
A baseball man first, Etzel began his athletic career as a little league pitcher, moving on to Columbia Prep, and Central Catholic High Schools, before entering the University of Portland where he starred in baseball and basketball. Joe holds the school career pitching win percentage record. The Pilots made the NCAA regionals in 1957 and 1958, and Etzel finished those two seasons with a 20-7 record and ERA of 2.45.
After graduation, Joe was head baseball coach at Central Catholic for five years. He was hired as the Pilot’s head baseball coach in 1965. In 21 seasons he won 378 games. 34 of his players went on to play professionally, including four reaching the major leagues (Ken Dayley, Bill Krueger, Tom Lampkin, Steve Wilson).
In 1970, in addition to his baseball coaching duties, Etzel took on those of athletic director, finally giving up coaching in 1986. He eventually served as AD for 34 years, retiring in May 2004. During that time the number of varsity sports on The Bluff grew from five to sixteen. Those teams included fourteen academic All-Americans and five post-graduate scholarship winners.
During his tenure as athletic director, Joe oversaw the construction of the Chiles Center, the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center, Pilot Stadium, and Merlo Field.
The old baseball coach also showed tremendous vision in elevating the sport of soccer. He hired Clive Charles who went on to build national powerhouse men’s and women’s programs. The women’s NCAA titles in 2002 and 2005 were a tremendous source of pride for Joe.
Joe Etzel is a member of the University of Portland Athletic Hall of Fame. Pilot Stadium was renamed Joe Etzel field in his honor.