Don Cooper


Donald James Cooper is an American former pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent parts of four seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. He has been the pitching coach of the Chicago White Sox since July 22, 2002. Under his tutelage, both Mark Buehrle and Philip Humber pitched perfect games, and the White Sox won the 2005 World Series.

Early life

He attended Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School and New York Institute of Technology.

Playing career

Cooper was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 17th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft. After the 1980 season, he was selected by the Minnesota Twins from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.
Cooper played for the Twins in 1981 and 1982, before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Dave Baker. After 1983, Cooper was traded to the Yankees for a minor league player. He signed with the Athletics for the 1986 season, appearing only in the minor leagues. In 44 MLB games spread over 4 seasons, Cooper compiled a 1-6 record, with a 5.27 ERA.

Coaching career

Cooper has worked in the White Sox organization since 1988, when he served as a minor league pitching coach for the Single-A South Bend Silver Hawks. He also served as pitching coach for the Single-A Advanced Sarasota White Sox from 1989 through 1991 and the Double-A Birmingham Barons in 1992. He became the White Sox minor league pitching coordinator from 1993 through 2002, aside from serving as pitching coach for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in 1995 and 1996.
Cooper became the White Sox pitching coach in July 2002, replacing Nardi Contreras. With the departure of Ozzie Guillén on September 26, 2011, and Joey Cora on September 27, 2011, Cooper became the 38th manager of the White Sox, filling the role for the final two games of the 2011 season before yielding the position to Robin Ventura.
Cooper is one of the longest tenured pitching coaches in MLB. He told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2018, "I love being part of young people’s lives helping them achieve the dreams they’re dreaming about. That’s what I’m into.’’
Cooper and his wife have a son and daughter and make their home in Brentwood, Tennessee.