Roy Love (April 22, 1937 – June 17, 2019) was a true Portland athlete, coach and administrator. He believed that playing football and baseball at Cleveland High gave him the belief he could even attend college.
Starting in 1955, Love began four decades of service at Portland State, first as a baseball player for four seasons. He was a team captain and All-Conference pitcher.
Just three years after graduating, he became the head baseball coach in 1962 and led his team to a second-place finish at NAIA nationals. Later, after PSU joined the NCAA, Roy’s team won the NCAA Pacific Coast College championship in 1967. He finished his baseball coaching career with a 257-215 record over thirteen seasons.
In addition to his baseball coaching, he also served as an Assistant Football coach from 1962-71, Golf Coach 1968-87 and was a member of the Health and Physical Education Faculty for over 30 years.
He served as Athletic Director from 1975-86, retired, and then was asked to return and served an additional six years from 1988 until 1993.
While serving as Athletic Director, PSU teams won four national championships in volleyball, two national championships in wrestling, five league championships in football as well as numerous other titles in baseball and women’s basketball. Love negotiated several moves of Viking programs into better competitive situations by switching leagues or conferences.
It was also his vision that brought notable coaches, such as Mouse Davis, Don Read, Pokey Allen, Jack Dunn, Jeff Mozzochi, Teri Mariani, Marlin Grahn and Greg Bruce to Portland State.
In 1993 he retired for the second time, as Athletic Director after over three decades of service at the University.
Roy Love is a member of the Cleveland High School, PIL and Portland State halls of fame.