Virginia tech baseball coach chuck hartman dies at 85

Wyatt Krueger

November 3, 2020

Chuck Hartman, beloved Virginia Tech baseball coach from 1979-2006, sadly passed away Monday night at the age of 85.

Virginia Tech athletics reported his passing last night, mentioning that Hartman had been in poor health “for quite some time.” Hartman was in an assisted living facility at the time of his death.

Hartman coached the Virginia Tech baseball team for 28 seasons, retiring in 2006 with the fourth-most wins in Division I baseball history with 1,444.

John Szefc, the current head coach of Virginia Tech baseball, tweeted his condolences on Tuesday morning.

“Coach Hartman was all class. VT lost a legend, a HOF man that we all respected highly. Blessings to his family. He will be greatly missed.”

In 2002, Hartman was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame with a record of 961-591-8 in Blacksburg, one of eight Halls of Fame that the legendary coach is a member of. Hartman was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2004 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Hartman became the ninth baseball coach in Division I to win 1,000 games in 1992, and his teams won three Atlantic 10 tournament titles. His Hokies made four NCAA Tournament appearances in 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2000.

He coached 12 All-Americans and four first-round draft picks while winning five conference championships in Blacksburg.

Hartman leaves a lasting legacy in the Virginia Tech community, as he will be admired not only for his hall of fame career in baseball, but for his mentorship and personable nature as well.