Don Cooper obituary: Don Cooper, the longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach who helped lead the team to its 2005 World Series title, has died at the age of 70. His family said he passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee, and the White Sox confirmed the news.
Latest update (September 24, 2026): No cause of death has been made public, and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
What We Know About Don Cooper’s Death
The news was first shared on Facebook from Cooper’s personal account, according to Sox On 35th and CBS Chicago. His family said Donald James Cooper died peacefully and described his deep Christian faith. They said funeral arrangements will be shared once they are set.
The White Sox posted their own statement of condolences on social media, noting that Cooper spent 33 seasons as a coach in the organization from 1988 to 2020, including 18 full seasons as the major-league pitching coach.
According to the family announcement as reported by Yardbarker, Cooper is survived by Ruby, Jaime, Luke and Kate. The reports reviewed do not say how each is related to him.
Who Was Don Cooper?
Donald James Cooper was born on January 15, 1956, in New York City. He made his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins on April 9, 1981, and later pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. His playing career ended in 1985 with a 1-6 record, a 5.27 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
His lasting legacy came as a coach. The White Sox hired him in 1988 as a minor-league pitching coach, and he spent 14 years developing young pitchers, including time as the club’s minor league pitching coordinator. In July 2002 he became the big-league pitching coach, a role he held through the 2020 season under four managers: Jerry Manuel, Ozzie Guillen, Robin Ventura and Rick Renteria.
Don Cooper’s Career at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Donald James Cooper |
| Nickname | “Coop” |
| Born | January 15, 1956, New York City |
| Died | September 22, 2026, Brentwood, Tennessee |
| Age | 70 |
| Playing career | Twins (1981-82), Blue Jays (1983), Yankees (1985) |
| White Sox tenure | 1988-2020 (33 seasons) |
| MLB pitching coach | July 2002-2020 (18 full seasons) |
| Championship | 2005 World Series |
| Cause of death | Not disclosed |
| Funeral arrangements | Not yet announced |
The 2005 Pitching Staff That Ended an 88-Year Wait
Cooper is most closely linked with the 2005 White Sox. After losing the opener of the American League Championship Series to the Angels, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras each pitched a complete game in the next four contests. No team had done that in a postseason since the 1928 Yankees, and only 21 complete games have been thrown in the MLB postseason since, according to CBS Chicago.
The White Sox went 11-1 in that postseason, with the pitching staff posting a combined 2.55 ERA. They swept the Houston Astros in the World Series to win the franchise’s first title since 1917.
During his time as pitching coach, Cooper also worked with Buehrle through a no-hitter and a perfect game, helped Esteban Loaiza win 21 games and helped Chris Sale become one of the best left-handers of his era, according to USA TODAY via Yahoo Sports. The White Sox parted ways with him after the 2020 season, along with manager Rick Renteria. [INTERNAL LINK: related White Sox or MLB story]
Tributes to Don Cooper
- Ozzie Guillen, former White Sox manager, wrote on X that his career would not have been the same without Cooper.
- Ken Williams, former White Sox executive, told the Chicago Sun-Times that he considers Cooper one of the best pitching coaches the game has seen.
- Joey Cora, former White Sox bench coach, called him a great coach and a great person in an Instagram tribute.
Don Cooper Funeral Arrangements
No funeral or memorial service details have been announced yet. His family has said arrangements will be communicated once they are established. Readers should follow the family’s Facebook post and the White Sox’s official channels for updates. [INTERNAL LINK: obituaries category page]
Don Cooper Obituary: Frequently Asked Questions
Did Don Cooper die?
Yes. Don Cooper, the former White Sox pitching coach, died on September 22, 2026, at age 70. His family announced it on Facebook and the White Sox confirmed it.
Where did Don Cooper die?
He died at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee, according to CBS Chicago and his family’s statement.
What was Don Cooper’s cause of death?
No cause of death has been disclosed. His family said only that he passed away peacefully.
What is Don Cooper best known for?
He was the White Sox pitching coach for 18 seasons and was on the staff that won the 2005 World Series, when four starters threw consecutive complete games in the ALCS.
How long was Don Cooper with the White Sox?
He spent 33 seasons in the organization, from 1988 to 2020.
Are funeral arrangements announced for Don Cooper?
Not yet. The family said details will be shared once they are established.
Final Thoughts
Don Cooper’s death closes the book on one of the most recognizable coaching careers in White Sox history. For a generation of fans, “Coop” was a constant presence in the dugout, and his work with the 2005 staff remains a benchmark for postseason pitching.
This article will be updated if the family or the White Sox share more information.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available news reports and statements from Don Cooper’s family and the Chicago White Sox at the time of publication. Some details, including the cause of death and funeral arrangements, have not been confirmed and may change as more information becomes available. If you notice an error or have an update to share, please contact our editorial team so we can review and correct it promptly.
