TOLEDO, Ohio – Former University of Toledo head baseball coach Stan Sanders passed away on Friday. He was 81.

Sanders helmed the Rockets' baseball program from 1970-81 and 1981-92, winning a program-record 534 games during his tenure. He coached 31 All-MAC players, and 46 of his athletes played professional baseball following their careers at Toledo. Six of his former players went on to play in the MLB: Stan Clarke, Scott Fletcher, Tom Marsh, Len Matuszek, A.J. Sager, and Marc Wilkins.

Former Rocket and All-American Roger Coe played under Sanders, as did 13 Varsity T Hall of Famers: Len Matuszek, John Pilewski, Mike Rachuba, Paul Peer, A.J. Sager, Tom Marsh, David Krol, Mike Karabin, Neal Mersch, Mike Tippenhauer, Don Whiting, Troy Keegan, and Randy Schafer.

Toledo posted six 30-win campaigns under Sanders' watch, and his players still litter the program's record book to this day. His pitchers tossed five no-hitters, three coming from Tippenhauer, and player from his tenure still hold the school's career records for pitching wins (Mike Rachuba, 28), ERA (Roger Coe, 2.34), and strikeouts (Coe, 298).

Born Stanley Cocciolone in Philadelphia, Pa. on August 12, 1939, he moved to Miami with his mother as a child and took her maiden name, Sanders. He played high school baseball at Miami Tech, where he was a pitcher, and following his graduation he served in the U.S. Army for three years. He would later go on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami in 1965.

Sanders spent time in professional baseball as a player with the Philadelphia and St. Louis organizations and as a part-time scout for Kansas City, Detroit, and the New York Yankees. In 1982, he became the first coach in NCAA history to obtain permission to take a leave of absence to be an instructor for a professional team, serving as a coach and scout for a year with the Yankees before returning to Toledo the following year. While with New York, Sanders spent spring training at the team's minor league camp as a hitting instructor before spending the next several months scouting prospects in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. The Yankees used their first and fourth round picks on players Sanders scouted.

Following the draft, Sanders was sent to Oneonta, N.Y. to work with the Yankees' Class A team as a hitting instructor, where he had the chance to work with former first-round MLB draft pick and Hall of Fame NFL quarterback John Elway.

Sanders began his coaching career at Ohio University, serving as an assistant coach from 1966-69. An excellent evaluator of talent, he recruited one of the best baseball players ever, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, to play for the Bobcats during his time in Athens.

A celebration of life will be held at Next Door Pub & Grub (5931 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43614), one of Sanders' favorite local establishments, on Thursday, August 12 at 4:00 p.m.

Per Sanders' wishes, there will not be a visitation or funeral service, as he opted to donate his body to UTMC's Department of Neuroscience. Donations in Sanders' memory can be sent to the Dugout Club at the University of Toledo or to the Toledo Area Humane Society. For those wishing to donate to the Dugout Club, please contact the Toledo Athletics Development Office at 419-530-5087.

Comments from those who knew Stan Sanders

"I was sad to hear of Coach Sanders' passing. He meant a lot to the history of Toledo Baseball and many of his former players always spoke so fondly of him. On a personal note, I was fortunate to get to know Coach and spend time with him. I'll miss our lunches and all the stories he would tell me from the many years he spent in the game. He was a good man and will be missed."

– Toledo head baseball coach Rob Reinstetle

"On behalf of Toledo Athletics, we offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Coach Stan Sanders. Stan was an outstanding coach and an even better person. He undoubtedly made an impact on everyone who played for him and worked alongside him. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who knew Stan well. He will be sorely missed."

– UToledo Vice President and Athletic Director Mike O'Brien

"I've been fortunate to call Stan a friend for over 48 years, starting with our meeting on a racquetball court at UT in 1973. We enjoyed many special times together over the years - from visiting Stan's favorite steakhouses to his childhood haunts in Miami Beach.  He will leave a void in my life and so many others who he befriended."

– Close friend and Varsity T Hall of Famer Myron Shapiro

"I could write a book about Coach. I've been thinking about him a lot the last few days and this was one thing that came to mind: he had this dual personality. On the baseball field he was hard-nosed; he commanded excellence through hard work. He was an excellent teacher, he knew the game of baseball inside and out. And then off the field he was generous, gracious, and friendly. He could sit and listen to you talk for hours. Stan was just a really, really good guy. He'll be dearly missed."

– Former player and close friend Stan Clarke (1979-81)