Don Cooper, Architect of White Sox 2005 Pitching Staff, Dies at 70
Don Cooper, the longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach who guided the team to the 2005 World Series title, has died at age 70. Cooper spent 33 seasons in the White Sox organization, serving as the major-league pitching coach from 2002 to 2020. He was credited with developing a dominant rotation featuring Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, and Jose Contreras. Former players and managers, including Ozzie Guillen and Chris Sale, praised his direct coaching style and ability to improve pitcher mechanics and confidence. Cooper previously pitched in the majors for the Twins, Blue Jays, and Yankees before beginning his coaching career in 1988.