- Don Donoher
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Donald (Don) Donoher (born January 21, 1932) was head basketball coach at the University of Dayton, in Dayton, Ohio, USA, from 1964 until 1989.
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Early years
Donoher began his career as a basketball player at Central Catholic High School 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.
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 tournament, reaching the Sweet Sixteen [1]. 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 [2]. 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 [3]. Additionally, Dayton played in seven NIT post-season competitions under Donoher, winning the championship in 1968 [4]. Donoher is Dayton's 3rd all-time winningest coach, behind Tom Blackburn (71%) and Brian Gregory (65%), compiling a 437-275 record (.614)[5], 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 Games[6].
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 [7]. In 1998, the University of Dayton named the new state of the art addition to the University of Dayton Arena 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.
Head coaching record
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason Dayton Flyers (Independent) (1964–1989) 1964-1965 Dayton 22-7 NCAA 2nd Round 1965-1966 Dayton 23-6 NCAA 2nd Round 1966-1967 Dayton 25-6 NCAA Runner-Up 1967-1968 Dayton 21-9 NIT Championship 1968-1969 Dayton 20-7 NCAA 1st Round 1969-1970 Dayton 19-8 NCAA 1st Round 1970-1971 Dayton 18-9 NCAA 1st Round 1971-1972 Dayton 13-13 1972-1973 Dayton 13-13 1973-1974 Dayton 20-9 NCAA 2nd Round 1974-1975 Dayton 10-16 1975-1976 Dayton 14-13 1976-1977 Dayton 16-11 1977-1978 Dayton 19-10 NIT Quarterfinals 1978-1979 Dayton 19-10 NIT 2nd Round 1979-1980 Dayton 13-14 1980-1981 Dayton 18-11 NIT 2nd Round 1981-1982 Dayton 21-9 NIT 3rd Round 1982-1983 Dayton 18-10 1983-1984 Dayton 21-11 NCAA Elite 8 1984-1985 Dayton 19-10 NCAA 1st Round 1985-1986 Dayton 17-13 NIT 1st Round 1986-1987 Dayton 13-15 1987-1988 Dayton 13-18 Dayton Flyers (MCC) (1988–1989) 1988-1989 Dayton 12-17 6-6 4th Dayton: 437-275 6-6 Total: 437-275 National Champion Conference Regular Season Champion Conference Tournament Champion
Conference Regular Season & Conference Tournament Champion Conference Division ChampionExternal links
Dayton Flyers men's basketball head coaches No coach (1903–1909) • William O'Malley (1909–1910) • Harry Solimano (1910–1914) • Al Mahrt (1914–1915) • Alfred McCray (1915–1917) • Al Mahrt (1917–1919) • Harry Solimano (1919–1920) • Dutch Thiele (1920–1921) • William Sherry (1921–1922) • Van Hill (1922–1923) • Harry Baujan (1923–1928) • George Fitzgerald (1928–1929) • Bill Belanich (1929–1933) • Louis Tschudi (1933–1935) • Joe Holsinger (1935–1939) • James Carter (1939–1943) • No team (1943–1945) • James Carter (1945–1947) • Tom Blackburn (1947–1964) • Don Donoher (1964–1989) • Jim O'Brien (1989–1994) • Oliver Purnell (1994–2003) • Brian Gregory (2003–2011) • Archie Miller (2011– )
Categories:- 1932 births
- Living people
- People from Toledo, Ohio
- People from Dayton, Ohio
- American basketball coaches
- American basketball players
- Dayton Flyers men's basketball players
- Dayton Flyers men's basketball coaches
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