Liberty Athletics Mourns the Loss of Al Worthington
6/19/2026 12:40:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty Athletics mourns the loss of Al Worthington, Liberty's first-ever head baseball coach and a former athletics director.
Worthington peacefully passed away on Tuesday, June 16, at the age of 97.
Al Worthington
Baseball Coach (1974-1986)
Athletics Director (1983-89)
Al Worthington used the knowledge gained from 16 years of major league baseball and his passion for Christ to help him become one of Liberty's first coaching legends.
After playing two seasons of football and four years of baseball at Alabama, Worthington played for five different major league programs, including a five-year stint with the Minnesota Twins. He became that team's first true closer with 110 career saves. He also spent two years as the pitching coach for the Twins.
In 1974, Worthington came to Lynchburg to start Liberty's baseball program. His 13-year coaching stint enabled him to become the winningest coach in program history and finish with a .644 winning percentage (343-189-1). Following the first year of the program, Liberty never again had a losing record during the final dozen years under Worthington's tutelage.
During his time at the head of the program, Worthington coached four All-Americans and nine players who went on to play professional baseball, including Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Sid Bream (2009) and Lee Guetterman (2010).
On May 3, 1986, Dr. Jerry Falwell named Liberty's baseball facility Worthington Stadium. Liberty would go on to win that day, 19-3, against Maryland, capping off Worthington's stellar 13-year coaching career.
On Dec. 19, 1983, Worthington was named Liberty's fifth Director of Athletics, a role he held until he retired in 1989. During the final years of his tenure at Liberty, Worthington helped usher Liberty Athletics into the NCAA Division I ranks on Sept. 1, 1988.
Worthington was inducted into the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. Worthington was one of five Hall of Fame inductees in 2010.
Worthington peacefully passed away on Tuesday, June 16, at the age of 97.
Al Worthington
Baseball Coach (1974-1986)
Athletics Director (1983-89)
Al Worthington used the knowledge gained from 16 years of major league baseball and his passion for Christ to help him become one of Liberty's first coaching legends.
After playing two seasons of football and four years of baseball at Alabama, Worthington played for five different major league programs, including a five-year stint with the Minnesota Twins. He became that team's first true closer with 110 career saves. He also spent two years as the pitching coach for the Twins.
In 1974, Worthington came to Lynchburg to start Liberty's baseball program. His 13-year coaching stint enabled him to become the winningest coach in program history and finish with a .644 winning percentage (343-189-1). Following the first year of the program, Liberty never again had a losing record during the final dozen years under Worthington's tutelage.
During his time at the head of the program, Worthington coached four All-Americans and nine players who went on to play professional baseball, including Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Sid Bream (2009) and Lee Guetterman (2010).
On May 3, 1986, Dr. Jerry Falwell named Liberty's baseball facility Worthington Stadium. Liberty would go on to win that day, 19-3, against Maryland, capping off Worthington's stellar 13-year coaching career.
On Dec. 19, 1983, Worthington was named Liberty's fifth Director of Athletics, a role he held until he retired in 1989. During the final years of his tenure at Liberty, Worthington helped usher Liberty Athletics into the NCAA Division I ranks on Sept. 1, 1988.
Worthington was inducted into the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. Worthington was one of five Hall of Fame inductees in 2010.
Friday, June 19
Monday, June 01
Sunday, May 31
Sunday, May 31