Gophers Pitching Coach Todd Oakes Dies after Leukemia Battle

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota pitching coach Todd Oakes died Thursday after a four-year battle with leukemia.

The school announced his death and Terri Oakes wrote on her husband's CaringBridge page that he died "surrounded by his family with a cross in his hand and his favorite music playing." Todd Oakes had been placed in home hospice care last week.

Oakes joined the Gophers coaching staff in 1999, and 26 of his pitchers were drafted by major league teams, including three-time All-Star Glen Perkins with the Twins.

Minnesota won the Big Ten regular-season title this season, and coach John Anderson took the trophy to Oakes' home. The Gophers on Thursday lost 3-2 to Michigan in an elimination game at the conference tournament.

In addition to his wife, Oakes is survived by three sons.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

See Also: