Don Donoher
Encyclopedia
Donald Donoher (born January 21, 1932) was head basketball
coach
at the University of Dayton
, in Dayton, Ohio
, USA, from 1964 until 1989.
in Toledo, Ohio
from 1947-1950. He played three years of varsity basketball for coach Tom Blackburn at the University of Dayton, scoring 578 career points in 72 games. Following graduation from Dayton in 1954, Donoher served a two year enlistment in the United States Army
. Returning to Dayton after the end of his service, Donoher accepted a part-time basketball scout position offered by Blackburn. In February 1963, Blackburn made Donoher the University's first full-time assistant coach.
Blackburn had been suffering from cancer for most of the 1963-64 season. When the disease's effects became too debilitating for him to continue, Donoher took over as interim coach for the last three games of the season. In March 1964, Blackburn died from cancer, and Donoher was formally named his successor. However, Dayton credits the entire 1963-64 season to Blackburn.
, reaching the Sweet Sixteen
http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. Two years later, Donoher's Flyers
defeated Western Kentucky University
, the University of Tennessee
, Virginia Tech, and the University of North Carolina
en route to a national runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. During his tenure at Dayton, Donoher guided the Flyers to the NCAA tournament eight times, reaching the Sweet Sixteen five times, the Elite Eight
twice, and the national final once http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. Additionally, Dayton played in seven NIT
post-season competitions under Donoher, winning the championship in 1968 http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. Donoher is Dayton's 3rd all-time winningest coach, behind Tom Blackburn (71%) and Brian Gregory (65%), compiling a 437-275 record (.614)http://www.ncaa.org/stats/m_basketball/coaching/all_d1_coaching_records.pdf, including a 20-16 post season record (.556). Donoher-coached teams were noted for their discipline, tenacity, and sound fundamentals, frequently besting teams with greater athleticism. Bobby Knight
invited Donoher to serve as an assistant on the gold medal winning U.S. men's basketball team at the 1984 Summer Olympic Gameshttp://www.usabasketball.com/history/moly_1984.html.
after their former coach.
Don Donoher now lives in Dayton, Ohio and assists Pat Kreke in coaching at Bishop Fenwick High School in Middletown, Ohio where his grandchildren, Kevin and Shannon went to school.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, USA, from 1964 until 1989.
Early years
Donoher began his career as a basketball player at Central Catholic High SchoolCentral Catholic High School (Toledo, Ohio)
Central Catholic High School , is a Catholic, co-educational, college prep secondary school in Toledo, Ohio. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo and is the largest Catholic high school in the area. CCHS was founded as Cathedral High School in 1919, with its name change in 1920...
in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
from 1947-1950. He played three years of varsity basketball for coach Tom Blackburn at the University of Dayton, scoring 578 career points in 72 games. Following graduation from Dayton in 1954, Donoher served a two year enlistment in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Returning to Dayton after the end of his service, Donoher accepted a part-time basketball scout position offered by Blackburn. In February 1963, Blackburn made Donoher the University's first full-time assistant coach.
Blackburn had been suffering from cancer for most of the 1963-64 season. When the disease's effects became too debilitating for him to continue, Donoher took over as interim coach for the last three games of the season. In March 1964, Blackburn died from cancer, and Donoher was formally named his successor. However, Dayton credits the entire 1963-64 season to Blackburn.
Head coaching experience
Donoher enjoyed immediate success as a head coach, going 22-7 in his inaugural season and guiding the Flyers to a berth in the NCAA tournamentNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, reaching the Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. Two years later, Donoher's Flyers
Dayton Flyers
The Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight...
defeated Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
, the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Virginia Tech, and the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
en route to a national runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. During his tenure at Dayton, Donoher guided the Flyers to the NCAA tournament eight times, reaching the Sweet Sixteen five times, the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
twice, and the national final once http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. Additionally, Dayton played in seven NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
post-season competitions under Donoher, winning the championship in 1968 http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason. Donoher is Dayton's 3rd all-time winningest coach, behind Tom Blackburn (71%) and Brian Gregory (65%), compiling a 437-275 record (.614)http://www.ncaa.org/stats/m_basketball/coaching/all_d1_coaching_records.pdf, including a 20-16 post season record (.556). Donoher-coached teams were noted for their discipline, tenacity, and sound fundamentals, frequently besting teams with greater athleticism. Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
invited Donoher to serve as an assistant on the gold medal winning U.S. men's basketball team at the 1984 Summer Olympic Gameshttp://www.usabasketball.com/history/moly_1984.html.
Awards and recognition
Coach Donoher has been inducted into the Toledo Area High School Hall of Fame, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the University of Dayton Hall of Fame http://www.ohiobkcoaches.com/HallofFame/HOF2000/dondonoher.html. In 1998, the University of Dayton named the new state of the art addition to the University of Dayton ArenaUniversity of Dayton Arena
University of Dayton Arena is a 13,455-seat multi-purpose arena in Dayton, Ohio. The arena opened in 1969. It is home to the University of Dayton Flyers basketball teams....
after their former coach.
Don Donoher now lives in Dayton, Ohio and assists Pat Kreke in coaching at Bishop Fenwick High School in Middletown, Ohio where his grandchildren, Kevin and Shannon went to school.