Baseball | 12/16/2016 5:23:00 PM

STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern Athletics Department is mourning the passing of Bill Spieth, Ph.D., who was an integral part of the growth of the department. Spieth, 88, passed away Monday at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro. 

Born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Spieth was a professional baseball pitcher for three years after high school, but gave it up and served two years in the U.S. Army. After serving in the Korean War, Spieth later graduated from Penn State University on the G.I. Bill in 1954, earning his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. He joined the faculty of then Georgia Southern College in the 1960s as a health and physical education professor and academic advisor to students. 

Spieth spent time as the head baseball coach of the Eagles and then became the first coach of the women's softball team, a position he held for 17 years. As the baseball coach, he still stands fifth all-time at GS in career wins with 93. He won 201 games as the head softball coach.

He retired from Georgia Southern in 1996.

The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pittman Park United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Bagwell officiating.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org or by phone at (855) 448-3997; or mail to: P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.

For more on Spieth, here's a "Where Are They Now" piece done by the Georgia Southern Magazine.