It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Jim Darrah, the longtime Illinois Tech baseball coach and athletic director who was a member of the university's inaugural class inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. 

The history of Illinois Tech Baseball cannot be told without Jim Darrah. Coach Darrah served as the program's head coach for 25 years, beginning in 1978. Over the course of his remarkable career, he was a three-time Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. He was also recognized as both the NAIA State Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year.

In recognition of his impact to the Illinois Tech baseball program, the first base dugout at Ed Glancy Field was named in Jim's honor in 2022, a tribute made possible through the generosity of baseball alumni who knew the depth of his impact. 

Beyond his impact on Illinois Tech baseball and the university's athletics department, Jim made contributions to the wider world of baseball and entertainment. He helped train Michael Jordan during his time playing baseball for the Chicago White Sox, assisted Bo Jackson during an injury rehabilitation, and served as an assistant technical director for the film A League of Their Own, training stars including Madonna. 

In 2005, Jim was honored by Chicago's Mount Carmel High School during its Salute to the Champions. He was also a proud member of the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the University of Illinois Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. 

Since retiring, Jim has been most proud of being a grandfather to his nine grandchildren.  

From Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Usha Gilmore:
"Coach Darrah embodied Illinois Tech. I had the great privilege of spending time with both him and his wife, and I'm grateful for those moments. His passing is a tremendous loss for our entire Illinois Tech community — and especially our baseball family. Coach Darrah was a legend. We all hope to have a career in athletics as meaningful, as respected, and as impactful as his. He will be deeply missed. We will carry on his legacy by striving to be our best — in the classroom, on the field, and most importantly, as people."

From Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach Ed Zeifert:
Coach Darrah was, and will always be, Illinois Tech Baseball. He set the standard. Those who played for him loved him—and they gave him everything, because that's exactly what he gave to them. His influence stretches far beyond wins and losses. Illinois Tech Baseball was never just about the game. It was, and still is, a family—a brotherhood passed down from generation to generation.
 
Shortly after I was named head coach in 2015, I began learning about this family. Bill Guide was one of the first people to introduce me to it, and he insisted I meet Coach Darrah. That first meeting gave me all the insight I needed into what IL Tech Baseball was, what it should always be, and who we ultimately serve. Coach Darrah made it clear: IL Tech Baseball is about people, connection, and legacy.
 
#22, his jersey number is more than a number—it's a symbol of the standard he set, the love he gave, and the impact he made. That number has hung in my office since my first season, and it will remain there as long as I am entrusted with this program.
 
In the time I was fortunate enough to spend with him, Coach D inspired me to lead with heart, to grow through service, and to cherish every moment I get with my players and this university. His legacy reaches far beyond the diamond, and his memory will live forever in this program.

Below is information about services for Coach Darrah: 

Wake: Tuesday, July 1, 1–8 p.m.  

Lack & Sons Funeral Home 

9236 S. Roberts Road 

Hickory Hills, IL 

Funeral Mass: Wednesday, July 2, 10 a.m.  

St. Patricia Catholic Church 

9050 S. 86th Ave. 

Hickory Hills, IL 

The entire Illinois Tech community extends our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Jim's family, friends, and all who knew and worked with him during this difficult time.