Goldpanners coach Jim Dietz dies at 83

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - After decades of being a big part of baseball, three time Goldpanners’ head coach, Jim Dietz, died on March 27.

Jim Dietz was born in Eugene, OR, in 1939. He would go on to start his professional coaching career in his home state before becoming a part of Fairbanks history. Dietz joined the Goldpanners in 1970 and continued as head coach in 1977. After more than a decade, Dietz came back in 1990 and coached for the Goldpanners until 1993. He returned once more between 2009 and 2012.

Dietz was also the coach at San Diego State University between 1972 and 2002, winning 1230 games. Due to his success, Dietz was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, when he left San Diego State, in 2002.

Current general manager John Lohrke expressed gratitude for the “16 successful summers” that Dietz had with the Goldpanners.

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