Legendary Coach Gordie Gillespie Dies at 88

Credit: University of St. Francis

Gordie Gillespie, a Joliet legend and one of the winningest coaches in college baseball history, died Saturday night at age 88, the University of St. Francis said Sunday.

Gillespie, who died at home in Joliet, spent 25 of his 59-year coaching career as USF’s head baseball coach.

He also served as the school’s director of athletics (1976-86), athletic chairman (1986-1995), head football coach (1986-1993) and head women’s basketball coach (1976-77), according to USF.

“We are saddened to hear the news of Coach Gillespie’s passing,” USF Director of Athletics Dave Laketa said in a statement posted Sunday on the USF website. “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife, Joan, and the entire Gillespie family.”

According to USF, Gillespie amassed 2,402 victories in four sports, including a successful tenure as head football coach at Joliet Catholic High School from 1959-85.

He retired as USF’s head baseball coach in 2011 with 1,893 victories — the college baseball record at that time for any level.

Gillespie started his baseball coaching career in 1953 as head coach at Lewis University, then known as Lewis College, staying for 24 years.

“During his tenure, he directed the Flyers to the NAIA World Series eight times with national championships in each of his last three seasons, beginning in 1974. After finishing 5-9 in Gillespie’s debut season, Lewis did not post a losing record for the next 23 years,” USF said in an online post.

Gillespie also coached men’s basketball for 15 years at Lewis and started the women’s basketball program in 1976 at St. Francis. In his 15 years at Lewis, he had just two losing seasons and his inaugural St. Francis women’s team posted an 11-7 record, the university said.

After leaving Lewis, Gillespie headed to USF for one of his two stints there, starting a 19-year run that would see the Saints make eight trips to the NAIA World Series. In 1993, they claimed the school’s first championship in any sport.

Gillespie left USF in 1995, moving on to Ripon College in Wisconsin, where he replaced his son, Bob, as athletic director and posted a a 239-130 record in 10 seasons and led Ripon to the NCAA DIII playoffs in six of his last seven years.

In 2005, after Gillespie’s longtime assistant and successor at USF, Tony Delgado, announced his retirement, he returned to Joliet to begin a second stint as the Saints’ head coach.

Over the next six seasons, Gillespie led USF to two Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships and one CCAC Tournament title, USF said.

Despite never having played the game, Gillespie also led Joliet Catholic’s Hilltopers to a 222-54-6 record and five Illinois state football championships during a remarkable 27-year run, USF said.

He’s also responsible for launching the football program at USF and guiding the team to the NAIA playoffs in its second year in 1987.

Gillespie was the father of seven children from a previous marriage (Bob, Mike, Billie, Greg, Gordie Jr., Margaret Mary and Jackie). He and wife Joan had a combined total of 40 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren, according to USF.

Public visitation is scheduled for 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at New Covenant Community Church, 1995 Mills Road, Joliet. A private funeral will take place Friday, March 6.

A public memorial is planned for March 21, starting with a 9:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raymond, 604 N. Raynor Ave., followed by a celebration of Gillespie’s life at noon at the University of St. Francis’ Sullivan Center, 500 Wilcox St.