DENVER – The University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation today mourns the loss of former Pioneer baseball coach and DU Athletics Hall of Famer Jack Rose, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 86.
 
"Jack was a wonderful man who had a tremendous impact on the University of Denver as a coach, as an educator and as a person," Director of Athletics Ron Grahame said. "On the diamond he was a very successful coach who produced many pro prospects, continuing to build a tradition off success that continues to grow today. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack's family as they mourn a loss, but also celebrate a great life lived by a great Pioneer."


 
Rose stood on the top step of the dugout as the Pioneers' skipper for 36 years, leaving the University as the school's all-time winningest coach, compiling 785 wins during his storied career. A member of the 1997 Denver Athletics Hall of Fame class, Rose hung up his jersey for the final time in that 1997 season, ending his career ranked fifth on the NCAA's Division II list of winningest coaches in history. During his career, he guided the Pioneers to the Division I postseason five times and the NAIA playoffs eight times. In all, 31 of his former student-athletes signed professional contracts, almost half of the 67 professional athletes in the history of DU Athletics at the time of his induction into the Hall of Fame.
 
In 1970, Rose was named the District VII Coach of the Year in Division I and was the Colorado Intercollegiate Baseball Association Coach of the Year in 1989. Rose served as a member of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Advisory Committee for more than a decade, while also serving as the director of Olympic tryouts ahead of the 1984 Olympic Games.
 
Rose also earned recognition off the diamond, adding DU's Outstanding Faculty Award to his list of extraordinary accomplishments during his time in Crimson and Gold.
 
Last February, 60 former Pioneer baseball players joined the celebration of Rose's 85^th birthday.
 
Rose received his Master's in education from the University of Washington through a tennis and ROTC scholarship. He was the first instructor class at the US Air Force Academy when it was at Lowry Air Force Base while the academy was being built at Colorado Springs. Rose left the service as a Captain. 
 
Funeral services will take place Wednesday, November 7^th at 10:30 a.m. MT at Fort Logan, as Rose will receive full military honors.
 
– PIONEER TOGETHER –