Joe Etzel '56: A Life of Leadership, Faith, and Lasting Impact

Joe Etzel ’56 passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 87. For Central Catholic, the University of Portland (UP), and the wider Portland community, Joe’s life stands as a powerful example of steady leadership, service to others, and an enduring belief in the value of education and athletics.

Born to Al and Audrey Etzel, Joe attended St. Patrick’s and Blessed Sacrament for grade school. Much of his childhood was spent on neighborhood fields at Wallace Park and Vaughn Street Park, where his love for baseball took shape. He attended Columbia Prep High School before enrolling at Central Catholic, where he served as a class officer while also playing basketball and baseball, pitching for the Rams as well as playing left field.

Joe went on to the University of Portland in 1956, quickly distinguishing himself as one of the finest pitchers in school history. A standout two-sport student-athlete, he lettered four years in baseball and one year in basketball, leading the Pilots to NCAA playoff appearances in 1957 and 1958. He still ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in several pitching categories, including career winning percentage (.741) and earned run average (2.45).

While at UP, Joe met his future wife, Judy Kehoe. They married in 1962 and shared more than 60 years together. Joe earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Portland and was later awarded an honorary doctorate in public service.

After college, Joe returned to Central Catholic, where he served for five years as head baseball coach and a member of the faculty. Those years marked the beginning of his professional life as an educator and mentor, shaping young people through discipline, faith, and athletics. His time back on campus as a coach remains an important chapter in his legacy as an alum who gave back to Central Catholic in meaningful ways.

In 1965, Joe returned to the University of Portland to lead the baseball program. Over 21 seasons as head coach, he guided the Pilots to 378 victories and helped elevate the program’s profile. Joe’s influence expanded dramatically in 1970 when he was appointed Athletic Director. At the time, the University of Portland sponsored just five men’s teams and employed three coaches. Over the next 34 years, Joe oversaw extraordinary growth, guiding Portland Athletics to 16 men’s and women’s varsity programs competing at the NCAA Division I level and bringing the university into the West Coast Conference beginning in 1976.

Joe also reshaped the physical footprint of athletics on campus. Under his leadership, the university built the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center, the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center, Harry A. Merlo Field, and Pilot Stadium. When the Chiles Center opened in 1984, it became not only the home of UP Athletics but also a vital community gathering space, hosting concerts, speakers, graduations, and world leaders. In recognition of his impact, Pilot Stadium was renamed Joe Etzel Field upon his retirement in 2004.

When Joe retired, he was the longest-tenured Athletic Director in NCAA Division I in history. His contributions were later recognized through inductions into numerous Halls of Fame, including the University of Portland Athletics, Oregon Sports, and NACDA. He was also awarded the West Coast Conference Hall of Honor, and the Gary Cunningham Lifetime Achievement Award.

Even in retirement, Joe never stepped away from teaching and coaching. He continued to work clinics, give private pitching lessons, and spent two especially meaningful years coaching his grandsons in youth baseball. Joe was preceded in death by his wife Judy. He is survived by their son: Jim Etzel ’81 and brother: Mike Etzel ’60.

Joe Etzel leaves behind a legacy defined not simply by wins, championships, or buildings, but by the people he shaped along the way. For Central Catholic, he stands as a lasting example of what it means to lead with integrity, humility, and a lifelong commitment to service—values that continue to define the Ram community.