CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball community is mourning the loss of Mark Allen, who served as the pitching coach for the program for five years. He passed away at the age of 49.

In a statement released on Thursday, the University of Illinois confirmed that Allen had died on Wednesday, as informed by his family. He had been on a medical leave during the 2024 season after revealing his battle with cancer.

“This is a somber day for Illinois baseball,” expressed Illini coach Dan Hartleb in a heartfelt statement. “Coach Allen exemplified outstanding leadership and was a remarkable coach, husband, and father. His influence positively touched countless players and fellow coaches at Illinois and across the nation. He will be profoundly missed within our team and by the extensive network of former players he maintained contact with. Our hearts go out to Angela, Skylar, Avery, and the entire Allen family.”

During his time at Illinois, Allen played a pivotal role in the development of pitchers, with ten players he coached either being drafted or signing with major league teams following their collegiate careers. Under his guidance, Illinois achieved a 35-21 record last season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Before joining the Illinois coaching staff, Allen was the pitching coordinator for the San Francisco Giants during the 2019 season, where he was responsible for the pitching development across all minor league teams within the organization. He also dedicated eight years to the Cleveland organization in various roles, including scout, crosschecker, and assistant pitching coordinator.

Mark Allen leaves behind his wife, Angela, and their two daughters.

The University of Illinois is set to begin its season on February 14 against Abilene Christian at Corpus Christi, Texas.