Legendary Cal Baseball Coach Bob Milano Passes Away

Legendary California baseball coach Bob Milano passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease in Walnut Creek on Monday at the age of 85.

Milano served as the Golden Bears' head coach from 1978-99, guiding Cal to three of its six all-time College World Series appearances and reaching the postseason on a total of six occasions. He is the winningest baseball coach in school history with 688 victories and his No. 7 is one of the program's four retired baseball jerseys.

Milano made his first trip to the College World Series and was named the Pac-10 South Coach of Year in only his third season as Cal's head coach in 1980 when the Bears won a share of the conference title and the NCAA Midwest Regional in Tulsa. Cal set school records for victories (44-23-1) and postseason wins (8) that still stand today, and after dropping an 11-inning CWS opener to Michigan, rallied to win three in a row in Omaha (Clemson, St. John's, Miami) before being eliminated by Arizona and finishing third.

Milano would take two more teams to the College World Series in 1988 and 1992 after NCAA Regional victories in Austin and Gainesville, respectively. The 1988 team was one of three Milano-coached clubs to win 40 or more games in the 1980s, along with the 44-win 1980 team and a 42-win 1985.

In addition to producing successful teams, Milano sent 25 of his Cal players on to Major League Baseball during his head coaching tenure that was the second-longest in school history, including current San Francisco Giants' manager Bob Melvin and 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent.

Milano was also deeply involved with Team USA in the 1980s, serving as the program's head coach in 1987 and as an assistant coach in 1988 when the Americans won the gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.

Prior to becoming Cal's head coach in 1978, Milano had two stints as a Bears' assistant from 1962-63 and 1974-77. In between, he had a 10-year run as the head coach at Burlingame High School (1964-73).

As a collegiate player, Milano spent two seasons as a catcher on Cal teams in 1960 and 1961 that combined for a 59-24 record. He had a .357 batting average to lead the 1960 squad that won a share of the California Baseball Intercollegiate Association title and finished 30-14 overall.

Milano grew up in Oakland and attended Bishop O'Dowd High School. As a youth, he played baseball with and against East Bay legends Curt Flood, Joe Morgan, Vada Pinson and Willie Stargell, among others.

After retiring from his head coach duties at Cal following the 1999 season, Milano continued his involvement with the program in the years to follow as a member of the Cal Baseball Foundation and through frequent appearances at the team's home games, most recently at Cal's alumni game prior to the 2025 campaign.

Current Cal Baseball Foundation board member and Athletics' scout John Hughes, who played at Cal in the 1970s before later becoming the program's pitching coach under Milano, credited Milano for his success.

"After my dad passed away when I was 16 years old, there was nobody who had a bigger impact on my life than '7'," Hughes said. "Bob was a second father to me, my coach, my boss, and most importantly, a dear friend. I've been blessed to have a long career in baseball with many friends, and I owe it all to Bob."

"Bob Milano wasn't just a coach; he was a builder of men, a steward of the game, and a mentor whose impact reached far beyond the field," current Cal baseball head coach Mike Neu said. "His legacy lives on in every player he shaped, every team he led, and in the deep respect he earned throughout the baseball community." 

Milano is survived by his wife, Diane, son Bob Jr., daughters Paula, Laura, Audrey and Gina, their spouses, five grandchildren, and his sister Margaret.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Donations in Milano's honor can be made to …
The Cal Baseball Foundation, Bob Milano Memorial Fund
Attention: Mr. Dan Deaver, Managing Partner, Cal Class of 1984
CSM&D 1777 Botelho Drive, Suite 350
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
[Tax Identification Number 27-3544183]