Mark Marquess, who led the Stanford baseball team to back-to-back national championships in 1987 and 1988, died at the age of 78, the school announced Friday afternoon.
Marquess, a Stanford alum who played baseball and football for the Cardinal in the late 1960s, went 1,627-878-7 with 30 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 41 years on The Farm. He guided the Cardinal to the College World Series 14 times and had a 133-66 record in postseason play. Stanford won at least one game in each of its 14 trips to Omaha, Neb.
Mark Marquess, one of college baseball’s legendary head coaches and a man whose name is synonymous with Stanford baseball, passed away on Friday.
His legacy on The Farm and across the game of baseball will live on forever.
🗞️ » https://t.co/WbuU0HvkBI pic.twitter.com/9Sznxxma18
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) January 30, 2026
“This man was Stanford baseball,” Stanford head coach David Esquer said in a statement. “He was my coach and like a father to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. This is a great loss for the Stanford community, the Stanford baseball family and myself. I love that man.”
Marquess, known affectionately as “9” for his jersey number, was a three-year starter at first base during his collegiate playing days, earning first-team All-America honors in 1967 and second-team honors in 1968. His .404 batting average in 1967 ranks fifth all-time on the school’s single-season list, and his 15 career triples are tied for fifth. He also played three years of football at Stanford, spending time as a quarterback, split end, defensive back and punt returner.
He retired after the 2017 season and was replaced by Esquer, who played shortstop for Marquess in the 1980s and served as the head coach at rival Cal for 18 seasons before taking over at his alma mater.
“9er was more than a coach — he was a mentor and a father figure,” said University of San Diego coach Brock Ungricht, who coached at Stanford from 2011-16. “He and his wife, Susan, even helped plan our wedding while I worked for him. He took us in as young assistant coaches and showed us how to operate a first-class athletic program, emphasizing life, academics, and baseball. I feel incredibly fortunate to carry forward his legacy at USD and to pass along his energy, values, and commitment to winning to our student-athletes every day.”