UNC Asheville’s first baseball coach, Ken Bagwell, tragically died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Ken Bagwell was hired by the UNC Asheville athletic administration in 1984 to establish a baseball program.
From 1985 to 1987, he served as the head baseball coach for the Bulldogs.
He oversaw a program that lacked a valid home field for games and practices.
Despite those odds, he guided Asheville to 41 wins and brought in four players who are now members of the UNC Asheville Athletics Hall of Fame.
One of those inductees, Mike Shildt, is now a major league manager for the San Diego Padres.
He also made a significant contribution to one of the best baseball movies ever made, “Bull Durham.”
Bagwell enjoyed a successful baseball career at Clemson and then played for a few years in the Chicago White Sox organization.
He was an assistant at Clemson before becoming the head baseball coach at Montreat-Anderson and later UNC Asheville.
Coach Ken Bagwell’s Untimely Death Has Made Everyone Devastated
Ken Bagwell, UNC Asheville’s first baseball coach, reportedly took his last breath on Sunday, July 20, 2025, due to the complications of cancer.
UNC Asheville Bulldog Athletics took to their official Facebook handle and mourned the loss of coach Ken Bagwell. They wrote,
The Bulldogs mourn the loss of Asheville’s inaugural baseball coach Ken Bagwell. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bagwell family at this time.
Ken Bagwell
Mike Shildt, a major league manager for the San Diego Padres who played under Ken, remembered the time spent with him. He stated,
“Coach Bags was perhaps the most optimistic person I have ever met. He was always in a good mood and thinking the best-case scenario. Coach Bags loved the game of baseball and genuinely loved the players he coached. “I owe him so very much in my life because he gave me an opportunity to play at UNC Asheville which taught me so very much and allowed me to make life-long friends,” “Coach Bagwell thanks, and much respect to a life well-lived. Many blessing to the Bagwell family.”
Mike shildt
Marc Rosenbalm, one of the greatest pitchers at Asheville who also played under Ken, offered his heartfelt condolences. He said,
“Ken Bagwell was an extremely charismatic and fiercely competitive man who loved the game of baseball and those who played for him,” “He will truly be missed.”
Marc Rosenbalm
Former Sports Information Director Mike Gore, who worked with Ken during his final season at Asheville, also expressed his sorrow over the loss. He stated,
“Ken Bagwell started the UNC Asheville baseball program from scratch and I mean scratch. Every day he had to figure where he could practice. Coach Bagwell never truly had a home game during his entire time at Asheville,” “However, he persevered and brought in some of the greatest players to ever wear a Bulldog uniform.”
Mike Gore
Other close ones and relatives have also poured their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Ken’s family to stay strong in this challenging time.
The funeral service schedule will be announced soon. Rest in Heaven, Ken Bagwell.
Ken Bagwell Is Survived By His Wife Libby And Three Children
As per the sources, Ken Bagwell tied the knot with Libby Benjamin Bagwell, a former Wake Forest batgirl. Their exact wedding has not been mentioned.
Following their marriage, they resided in Wearville, North Carolina, United States.
Although Libby stayed away from the media spotlight, she always supported Ken in balancing his personal and professional life.
However, their married life ended after several decades following the tragic death of Ken. Friends and relatives have offered their heartfelt condolences and prayers to Libby.
Ken and Libby were blessed with two sons, Josh and Drew Bagwell, and one daughter, Bethany Bagwell.
According to Josh’s LinkedIn profile, he graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2002. He served as a machine services assistant at the Georgia Tech Research Institute for eight months.
He also served as an applications engineer at YANMAR American for three years.
Since August 2014, he has been serving as principal engineer and technical leader at GE Power.
On the other hand, Ken’s son Drew lettered the numbers 83 and 84 cars for Team Red Bull in the NASCAR racing series.
Bethany Bagwell has kept a low profile in the media spotlight.
Currently, Josh, Drew, and Bethany are mourning the death of their father, Ken Bagwell.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ken Bagwell took on a FungoMan distributorship that encompassed parts of Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and Western South Carolina.
- Josh Bagwell was also a mechanical engineer at Robert Bosch GmbH for one year.
