Legendary LSU Executive, Louisiana Football Coach Dies In Car Accident
10/19/2024 10:19 PM
The LSU football program lost a beloved member while Louisiana football as a whole lost a legend this week as former high school coach Charles Baglio lost his life in a car accident. He was 81 years old.
"Prayers for Charles Baglio's family this morning. The longtime LSU football staffer and Independence high football coach was tragically killed in a car accident late last night," ESPN's Hunter McCann reported.
Prayers for Charles Baglio's family this morning. 🙏🏻 The longtime LSU football staffer and Independence high football coach was tragically killed in a car accident late last night
— Hunter McCann (@mccann_hunter) October 19, 2024
Baglio served as the LSU Football Director of External Relations from 2002 to 2021, during which the program won three national titles under three different head coaches. But Baglio was a legend in the state well before he started working at LSU. Baglio's tenure in Baton Rouge began following a 34-year career coaching the Independence High School that included 22 years as the school's head coach.
In his two decades at Independence, Baglio led the program to nine district titles and two appearances in the state championship. He finished his career with 205 wins - still top 50 in Louisiana high school football history - and was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
"LSU mourns the loss of a legendary athletics figure in the state of Louisiana, Charles Baglio. Affectionately know as Coach Bags, Baglio spent 20 years on the football staff after a 34-year coaching career at Independence High School," the school said in a statement.
LSU mourns the loss of a legendary athletics figure in the state of Louisiana, Charles Baglio.
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 19, 2024
Affectionately know as Coach Bags, Baglio spent 20 years on the football staff after a 34-year coaching career at Independence High School. pic.twitter.com/JP2wx2TMyd
Many of Baglio's former colleagues and other Louisiana sports figures have taken to social media to make their own tributes to him:
"My family and I have Charles and the entire Baglio family in our prayers. He was a great coach, person, and friend," Baylor head coach and former LSU assistant Dave Aranda posted on X.
"I met Charles Baglio when we called the Independence games in the Superdome in the late 1990's. During his time at LSU I saw him often, and he always had a funny story, always friendly…he had the perfect job as LSU's high school relations director. Everybody knew him," ESPN's Charles Hanagriff wrote.
Our hearts go out to Coach Baglio's family and loved ones.
Related: Former LSU Player, Beloved Baton Rouge Restaurateur Ruffin Rodrigue Jr. Has Died
