Charley Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Charles F. "Charley" Donnelly was an American educator, golf
er, and college football
and golf coach. He served as the head football coach at the Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) in 1911 and as the head golf coach at the College of the Holy Cross
in the 1930s and 1940s.
, Donnelly attended Worcester High School, where he played on a championship football team. He attended the College of the Holy Cross
, and played as a substitute quarterback
on the football team
in 1907. After college, he began coaching football in 1908. In 1910, he coached Eastern High School
on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
, and The Washington Herald considered that team "one of the best football elevens in the history of the institution". Donnelly also coached the Eastern High baseball team to success.
In June 1911, while he worked as a clerk for the Census Bureau
, the Maryland Agricultural College
(now the University of Maryland) hired him as an assistant English instructor and head coach for its football
and baseball team
s. Donnelly resigned as coach midseason after the football team compiled a 2–4–2 record, including an embarrassing 14–0 loss to Central High School. Maryland turned to alumnus Curley Byrd
, high school coach at Western High School
, as his replacement.
Donnelly was an accomplished golfer. On August 1, 1926, he set records for nine and 18 holes at the Leicester
Country Club. In 1927, he won the Worcester Municipal golf championship. In 1932, he finished second in the Northeastern District Knights of Columbus
golf tournament in Longmeadow, Massachusetts
.
Donnelly served as the coach of the golf team at his alma mater, Holy Cross, between at least 1934 and 1948. While there, he coached future professional golfers Paul Harney
and Willie Turnesa
. In 1943, Donnelly captured the New England
senior golf championship at Newtonville in an 18-hole playoff with a score of 79 strokes. From 1951 to 1954, Donnelly was the president of the New England Senior Golfers' Association.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er, and college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and golf coach. He served as the head football coach at the Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) in 1911 and as the head golf coach at the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in the 1930s and 1940s.
Biography
A native of Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, Donnelly attended Worcester High School, where he played on a championship football team. He attended the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
, and played as a substitute quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
on the football team
Holy Cross Crusaders football
The Holy Cross Crusaders football team is the collegiate football program of the College of the Holy Cross. The team is a member of the Patriot League, an NCAA Division I conference that participates in the second-level Football Championship Subdivision, more commonly known as FCS or the...
in 1907. After college, he began coaching football in 1908. In 1910, he coached Eastern High School
Eastern High School (Washington, D.C.)
Eastern High School is a public high school located in Washington, D.C.. It educates about 350 students in grades 9 to 12. The school is part of District of Columbia Public Schools....
on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and The Washington Herald considered that team "one of the best football elevens in the history of the institution". Donnelly also coached the Eastern High baseball team to success.
In June 1911, while he worked as a clerk for the Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the Maryland Agricultural College
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
(now the University of Maryland) hired him as an assistant English instructor and head coach for its football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and baseball team
Maryland Terrapins baseball
The Maryland Terrapins baseball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college baseball competition. The Terrapins compete as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Historically, Maryland has not been a strong baseball program, and the...
s. Donnelly resigned as coach midseason after the football team compiled a 2–4–2 record, including an embarrassing 14–0 loss to Central High School. Maryland turned to alumnus Curley Byrd
Curley Byrd
Harry Clifton "Curley" Byrd was an American university administrator, educator, athlete, coach, and politician...
, high school coach at Western High School
Duke Ellington School of the Arts
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts is a high school located at 35th Street and R Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., and dedicated to arts education. One of the high schools of the District of Columbia Public School system, it is named for the American jazz bandleader and composer Edward...
, as his replacement.
Donnelly was an accomplished golfer. On August 1, 1926, he set records for nine and 18 holes at the Leicester
Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,970 at the 2010 census.-History:Leicester was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1714....
Country Club. In 1927, he won the Worcester Municipal golf championship. In 1932, he finished second in the Northeastern District Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
golf tournament in Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,633 people, 5,734 households, and 4,432 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.42% White, 0.69% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.90%...
.
Donnelly served as the coach of the golf team at his alma mater, Holy Cross, between at least 1934 and 1948. While there, he coached future professional golfers Paul Harney
Paul Harney
Paul Harney was an American professional golfer and golf course owner who spent part of his career as a full-time PGA Tour player, but mostly was a club professional, part-time Tour player, and owner-operator of his own course....
and Willie Turnesa
Willie Turnesa
William P. Turnesa was an American amateur golfer, best known for winning two U.S. Amateur titles and the British Amateur. He was one of seven famous golfing brothers; Phil , Frank , Joe , Mike , Doug , Jim , and Willie...
. In 1943, Donnelly captured the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
senior golf championship at Newtonville in an 18-hole playoff with a score of 79 strokes. From 1951 to 1954, Donnelly was the president of the New England Senior Golfers' Association.