Larry Donovan
Encyclopedia
Larry Donovan is a former head football coach for the Montana Grizzlies
and BC Lions
.
A 1964 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Donovan served as an assistant at Iowa
, South Dakota
, Washington State
, and Kansas State
before becoming Montana's head coach on December 15, 1979.
In his six seasons as head coach of the Grizzlies, Donovan had a 25-38-1 record and only one winning season. On November 25, 1985, Athletic Director Harley Lewis announced that the contracts of Donovan and eight of his assistants would not be renewed. Donovan believed that he had been unjustly fired and blamed the antiquated Dornblaser Field
for his lack of success in recruiting. His requests for a new stadium resulted in the construction of Washington-Grizzly Stadium
, which opened in 1986.
Donovan's next coaching job was as the defensive line coach for the BC Lions
. On October 30, 1987, head coach Don Matthews
was fired and Donovan was named interim head coach. The Lions went 4-0 after the coaching change and finished the season in first place in the Canadian Football League West Division
. In his first full season as head coach, the Lions had a 10-8 record and made it to the Grey Cup
, losing to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
22-21. The Lions struggled in 1989
and Donovan was fired after an 0-4 start.
Donovan was an assisted Coach for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in 1990 and 1991.
He traveled to Japan to Coach the Japanese X League Hurricanes sponsored by Hitachi Limited and Renesas Technologies from 1992 until 2007. He was a Training Camp Coach and Consultant for the Asahi Beverage Challengers in Osaka, Japan in 2010.
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
and BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
.
A 1964 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Donovan served as an assistant at Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, South Dakota
South Dakota Coyotes
The South Dakota Coyotes, also known as the USD Coyotes , are the athletic teams for the University of South Dakota. Their team colors are vermilion and white. They have been members of The Summit League of the NCAA's Division I since the 2011-12 season...
, Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
, and Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
before becoming Montana's head coach on December 15, 1979.
In his six seasons as head coach of the Grizzlies, Donovan had a 25-38-1 record and only one winning season. On November 25, 1985, Athletic Director Harley Lewis announced that the contracts of Donovan and eight of his assistants would not be renewed. Donovan believed that he had been unjustly fired and blamed the antiquated Dornblaser Field
Dornblaser Field
Dornblaser Field is the name of two stadiums in Missoula, Montana, former home fields of the Montana Grizzlies football teams. The first ivy-covered stone venue opened in 1912 on campus at the base of Mount Sentinel; it hosted the Griz until an off-campus stadium opened in 1968, a "temporary"...
for his lack of success in recruiting. His requests for a new stadium resulted in the construction of Washington-Grizzly Stadium
Washington-Grizzly Stadium
Washington-Grizzly Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Missoula, Montana, located on the campus of the University of Montana. It is home to the Montana Grizzlies college football team, a dominant program of the Big Sky Conference and consistently a top team in Division I FCS, formerly known...
, which opened in 1986.
Donovan's next coaching job was as the defensive line coach for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
. On October 30, 1987, head coach Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
was fired and Donovan was named interim head coach. The Lions went 4-0 after the coaching change and finished the season in first place in the Canadian Football League West Division
Canadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
. In his first full season as head coach, the Lions had a 10-8 record and made it to the Grey Cup
76th Grey Cup
The 76th Grey Cup was the 1988 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, between the BC Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers defeated the favoured Lions 22-21...
, losing to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
22-21. The Lions struggled in 1989
1989 CFL season
The 1989 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 36th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 32nd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1989:...
and Donovan was fired after an 0-4 start.
Donovan was an assisted Coach for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in 1990 and 1991.
He traveled to Japan to Coach the Japanese X League Hurricanes sponsored by Hitachi Limited and Renesas Technologies from 1992 until 2007. He was a Training Camp Coach and Consultant for the Asahi Beverage Challengers in Osaka, Japan in 2010.