Bob Gates
March 8, 1926 – January 22, 2019
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha Athletic Department mourns the passing of former baseball head coach Bob Gates who died on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the age of 93.
Gates led the Mavericks for 23 years, earning 464 victories from 1976-99, the second-most wins of any coach in program history. Through his efforts, the program survived severe budget cuts within the athletic department during the mid-1980s and surged back to prominence in the North Central Conference. He was inducted into the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
"We are deeply saddened with the recent passing of Bob Gates," said Trev Alberts, Vice Chancellor of Athletics. "Coach Gates was one of the of the most respected high school and college coaches in the state of Nebraska, and his vast contributions have had a profound impact in shaping the rich history of UNO Athletics and the Maverick baseball program."
Throughout his time as Omaha's head coach, Gates led the program to two NCC Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. He replaced Virgil Yelkin as head coach in 1976, just months before Yelkin passed away after a long illness. Gates' first nine teams at UNO posted a 202-147 mark, including a 31-16 record in 1981 when the team was one win shy of advancing the NCAA Division II College World Series. During his final eight seasons, he guided the Mavericks to a 164-143 mark and qualified for the NCC postseason playoffs each year, as well as winning a division title in the process.
In his 29 overall seasons as a college head coach, he recorded 541 career wins.
"Coach Gates was a great man and a great coach," said Assistant Athletic Director of Event Management and former UNO baseball student-athlete Ethan Anderson. "He was a true professional, gentleman and baseball ambassador to the community. His determination through perilous state financial difficulties ensured that the UNO baseball program not only existed but also thrived. He will always occupy an important place in our history and our hearts. I and countless others are lucky to have known and played for him."
Prior to his time at UNO, Gates coached six seasons at Pershing College in Beatrice, Neb. He also was a scout for the Baltimore Orioles and was the director of the Mickey Owen Baseball School.
Gates graduated from Omaha Holy Name High School where he was a standout athlete. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Wiley as a seaman from 1944-46. He then attended the University of Nebraska where he was a two-year starter in basketball and part of the Cornhuskers' conference championship team in 1950. He also played baseball for the Huskers and graduated from the school in 1950.
He returned to Holy Name as the school's head basketball, baseball and football coach and remained there until 1961. He led the Ramblers to six state championships in baseball, football and basketball before moving into college coaching at Nebraska. During his tenure as a high school coach, two of his football teams and one basketball team had undefeated seasons.
Gates was an assistant coach in baseball and basketball for the Huskers from 1961-66. He then went on to serve as the athletic director as well as the basketball and baseball coach at Pershing College for the following six seasons. On the diamond, he totaled a 77-40 record at Pershing until the school closed. He eventually returned to Nebraska as a football recruiter and assistant baseball coach.
In his final season at UNO in 1999, Gates stated that "the thing I enjoyed most about what I've done is working with kids, helping them become better players, students and citizens so that they can take their place in life."
Details regarding funeral and memorial services will be announced.
