LOS ANGELES -- John Herbold, a coaching icon in Southern California baseball circles, passed away on Wednesday. He was 88.
 
Herbold, who was a baseball coach for 49 years at the high school and college level, enjoyed a record-setting 21-year career at Cal State LA and led his teams to 455 victories. He became Cal State LA's all-time leader in wins in 2002 and was the university's head coach from 1984-2004.
 
He was inducted into Cal State LA's Hall of Fame in 2015. Herbold's No. 28 uniform number was officially retired at the induction ceremony and Herbold family members were presented with a framed Cal State LA baseball jersey.
 
Herbold's 1997 and 1998 teams were among the program's best and won back-to-back California Collegiate Athletic Association championships with a combined record of 41-23 in conference play. The 1998 squad earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, the first for the Cal State L.A. baseball program since 1977.
 
Numerous Cal State L.A. alums advanced to the professional ranks under his tenure, including outfielder Jay Gibbons, who played for the Golden Eagles from 1996-98 and pitcher Mike Burns, who started his collegiate career as an infielder and wound up as a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Golden Eagles from 1997-2000.
 
During Herbold's tenure, Cal State L.A. ranked among the top-25 schools in the nation, regardless of division, in sending players to the pros. In the classroom, Herbold's teams consistently performed at a high level, often compiling the best grade point average of any Cal State LA intercollegiate athletics squad.
 
Herbold received the prestigious Lefty Gomez Award, presented annually by the American Baseball Coaches Association to an individual who has distinguished himself amongst his peers and has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally, and internationally in January of 2004.
 
He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 1998.
 
Before coming to Cal State L.A., Herbold achieved great success in the high school coaching ranks. He compiled an amazing 483-176 record in 28 years at Long Beach Poly and Lakewood high schools, including CIF titles at both schools. He led Long Beach Poly to a title in 1963 and Lakewood to championships in 1970 and 1974. His teams captured 18 Moore League championships.