Donald James Cooper Obituary, Brentwood, Tennessee Cause of Death: Beloved Coach and Former MLB Pitcher Dies at 70

Donald James Cooper, the longtime Major League Baseball pitcher and highly respected Chicago White Sox pitching coach, died on September 22, 2026, at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee, at the age of 70. His death was announced by his family and subsequently confirmed by the Chicago White Sox.

Born January 15, 1956, in New York City, Cooper developed a lifelong connection to baseball from an early age. He attended Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School before continuing his education at the New York Institute of Technology, where he played baseball and basketball on scholarship.

Cooper was selected by the New York Yankees in the 17th round of the 1978 MLB Draft. Following the 1980 season, he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 Draft and went on to pitch in Major League Baseball with the Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Yankees. Across 44 MLB games, Cooper compiled a 1–6 record with a 5.27 earned-run average and 47 strikeouts.

After his playing career, Cooper established a much longer legacy as a coach. He joined the Chicago White Sox organization in 1988 and worked his way through its player-development system before becoming the club’s Major League pitching coach in July 2002. He remained in that position through the 2020 season and spent more than three decades with the organization overall.

During his 18-season tenure as the White Sox Major League pitching coach, Cooper worked with numerous successful pitchers and was closely associated with the club’s 2005 World Series championship. His tenure also included memorable pitching achievements, including Mark Buehrle’s 2007 no-hitter and 2009 perfect game, as well as Philip Humber’s perfect game in 2012.

Cooper also briefly served as the White Sox interim manager for the final two games of the 2011 season after Ozzie Guillén’s departure. In October 2020, the White Sox and Cooper parted ways following his 33rd season with the organization. At the time, the club recognized his decades of service and contribution to the organization.

His long career made Cooper a familiar and influential figure within the White Sox organization and among the pitchers he coached. The team’s 2005 championship and the accomplishments of several of its notable pitchers remain significant parts of the baseball legacy associated with his coaching career.

Cooper’s passing marks the loss of a former Major League pitcher and a longtime baseball instructor whose professional career spanned more than four decades. He is remembered through his work on the field, his years of service to the White Sox organization and the pitchers he helped develop. Condolences go to his family, friends, former players, colleagues and all who knew and respected him. May Donald James Cooper rest in peace.