MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — His name is synonymous with University of South Alabama sports. He has had a profound impact on hundreds of coaches and players.
Joe Gottfried has been selected as a member of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 for his many accomplishments.
After stints as basketball coach at Ashland University in Ohio and Southern Illinois University, Gottfried came to Mobile as athletic director at the University of South Alabama in 1981. The USA Baseball program excelled in the ’80s and ’90s, becoming one of the top programs in the country under coach Steve Kittrell, with 95 players signing professional baseball contracts.
During Gottfried’s 26 years at the school, the Jaguars men’s basketball team made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and the men’s soccer team was a top 20 program in the nation.
South Alabama won 108 Sun Belt Conference championships and appeared in the NCAA Championship 56 times during Gottfried’s time at the helm. The Jaguars won 13 Sun Belt Overall Athletic Championships during Gottfried’s 26 years.
An astonishing 83% of U.S. athletes graduated.
Gottfried worked tirelessly to promote South Alabama sports in the Mobile area, and during his tenure, USA hosted 50 Sun Belt tournaments.
Gottfried worked with USA administrators to significantly expand and improve athletic facilities: Mitchell Center opened in 1999, bringing USA Basketball back to campus, and Stankey Field was renovated in 2004. Gottfried also was instrumental in launching the football program at South Alabama.
After his retirement, Gottfried served as chairman of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame for 12 years.
Joe’s brother, Mike Gottfried, is a former college football coach and ESPN commentator who was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. His son, Mark Gottfried, served as head men’s basketball coach at Murray State University, the University of Alabama, North Carolina State University and the University of California, Northridge.
Gottfried will be inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame at the Mitchell Center on Thursday, May 30. Kelly Ogden Hillier, Pat White, Captain Munnerlyn and the late Carvel “Bama” Lowell will also be inducted.
The induction dinner will be held in conjunction with the First Light Community (formerly L’Arche) Football Preview, and tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com.
