flyingillini
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2022
- Messages
- 19,631
Sad day for the pitching community and the ILLINI.
fightingillini.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois pitching coach Mark Allen passed away Wednesday at the age of 49, his family announced. He is survived by his wife, Angela, and daughters, Skylar and Avery.
During his career, Allen totaled over 25 seasons coaching and scouting in collegiate and professional baseball, impacting the careers and lives of hundreds of pitchers. He spent five seasons as Illinois' pitching coach from 2020-24.
"Today is a difficult day for Illinois baseball," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "Coach Allen was an exceptional leader, coach, husband, and father. He impacted the lives of so many players and coaches here at Illinois and all around the country. Mark will be dearly missed within our program and by his network of hundreds of former players that he continually stayed connected with. Our thoughts and prayers are with Angela, Skylar, Avery, and the Allen family."
Allen helped Illinois to 121 wins during his five seasons, including the 2024 Big Ten title and a trip to the 2024 NCAA Lexington Regional. Ten of Allen's Fighting Illini pitchers were drafted or signed deals with MLB clubs following their Illinois careers.
Allen joined Illinois in October 2019 after nine seasons in professional baseball, including serving as the San Francisco Giants' pitching coordinator during the 2019 season. He oversaw all of San Francisco's minor league teams and pitching development during the 2019 season, as five of the Giants' eight minor league clubs reached the postseason and the Sacramento River Cats won the Triple-A national championship.
Prior to his stint with the Giants, Allen spent eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians organization as a scout, cross checker, national pitching cross checker, and pitching coordinator. He started as an area scout in 2010, before becoming a cross checker from 2014-16, then moving to the assistant pitching coordinator role through 2018. During his years with the Indians, Allen also coached on the field in the Arizona League for three seasons. He began coaching in the Indians organization in 2014 with the AZL Indians, helping the team to the Arizona League championship.
Allen also made coaching stops at St. Gregory's University (1998-99), Northlake Junior College (1999), Frank Phillips College (2003-04), North Central Texas College (2004-08), the Northwoods' Wisconsin Woodchucks (2007), and Seminole State College (2008-10). He helped lead Seminole State, one of the top junior college programs in the country, to the 2009 JUCO World Series.
Allen played college baseball at Vernon Junior College (1994-96), Texas-San Antonio (1996-97) and Phillips University (1997-98) before going into coaching.
Illinois Pitching Coach Mark Allen Passes Away - University of Illinois Athletics
Illinois pitching coach Mark Allen passed away Wednesday at the age of 49, his family announced. He is survived by his wife, Angela, and daughters, Skylar and Avery.
fightingillini.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois pitching coach Mark Allen passed away Wednesday at the age of 49, his family announced. He is survived by his wife, Angela, and daughters, Skylar and Avery.
During his career, Allen totaled over 25 seasons coaching and scouting in collegiate and professional baseball, impacting the careers and lives of hundreds of pitchers. He spent five seasons as Illinois' pitching coach from 2020-24.
"Today is a difficult day for Illinois baseball," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "Coach Allen was an exceptional leader, coach, husband, and father. He impacted the lives of so many players and coaches here at Illinois and all around the country. Mark will be dearly missed within our program and by his network of hundreds of former players that he continually stayed connected with. Our thoughts and prayers are with Angela, Skylar, Avery, and the Allen family."
Allen helped Illinois to 121 wins during his five seasons, including the 2024 Big Ten title and a trip to the 2024 NCAA Lexington Regional. Ten of Allen's Fighting Illini pitchers were drafted or signed deals with MLB clubs following their Illinois careers.
Allen joined Illinois in October 2019 after nine seasons in professional baseball, including serving as the San Francisco Giants' pitching coordinator during the 2019 season. He oversaw all of San Francisco's minor league teams and pitching development during the 2019 season, as five of the Giants' eight minor league clubs reached the postseason and the Sacramento River Cats won the Triple-A national championship.
Prior to his stint with the Giants, Allen spent eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians organization as a scout, cross checker, national pitching cross checker, and pitching coordinator. He started as an area scout in 2010, before becoming a cross checker from 2014-16, then moving to the assistant pitching coordinator role through 2018. During his years with the Indians, Allen also coached on the field in the Arizona League for three seasons. He began coaching in the Indians organization in 2014 with the AZL Indians, helping the team to the Arizona League championship.
Allen also made coaching stops at St. Gregory's University (1998-99), Northlake Junior College (1999), Frank Phillips College (2003-04), North Central Texas College (2004-08), the Northwoods' Wisconsin Woodchucks (2007), and Seminole State College (2008-10). He helped lead Seminole State, one of the top junior college programs in the country, to the 2009 JUCO World Series.
Allen played college baseball at Vernon Junior College (1994-96), Texas-San Antonio (1996-97) and Phillips University (1997-98) before going into coaching.
