Don Donoher

Donald Donoher (born January 21, 1932) is an American retired college basketball coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Dayton from 1964 to 1989, compiling a record of 437–275. His Dayton Flyers were champions of the 1968 National Invitation Tournament and runners-up at the 1967 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament. Donoher was also the athletic director at Dayton from 1976 to 1980.

Don Donoher
Biographical details
Born (1932-01-21) January 21, 1932
Playing career
1951–1954Dayton
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1964Dayton (assistant)
1964–1989Dayton
1989–1990Indiana (assistant)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1976–1980Dayton
Head coaching record
Overall437–275
Tournaments11–10 (NCAA University Division / Division I)
10–6 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NIT (1968)
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2015

Early years

Donoher began his career as a basketball player at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio from 1947 to 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. 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. 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. Additionally, Dayton played in seven NIT post-season competitions under Donoher, winning the championship in 1968.[1] Donoher is Dayton's all-time winningest coach with a 437–275 record (.614), including a 20–16 post season record (.556).[2] Donoher-coached teams were noted for their discipline, tenacity, and sound fundamentals, frequently besting teams with greater athleticism. Donoher served as an assistant to Head Coach Bobby Knight on the gold medal winning U.S. men's basketball team at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.[3]

Awards and recognition

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.[4] On February 17, 2015 it was announced that Donoher had been selected for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.[5]

In 1998, the University of Dayton named the new state of the art addition to the University of Dayton Arena after Donoher .

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, attended.

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Dayton Flyers (NCAA University Division / Division I independent) (1964–1988)
1964–65 Dayton 22–7NCAA University Division Regional Third Place
1965–66 Dayton 23–6NCAA University Division Regional Fourth Place
1966–67 Dayton 25–6NCAA University Division Runner-up
1967–68 Dayton 21–9NIT Champion
1968–69 Dayton 20–7NCAA University Division First Round
1969–70 Dayton 19–8NCAA University Division First Round
1970–71 Dayton 18–9NIT First Round
1971–72 Dayton 13–13
1972–73 Dayton 13–13
1973–74 Dayton 20–9NCAA Division I Regional Fourth Place
1974–75 Dayton 10–16
1975–76 Dayton 14–13
1976–77 Dayton 16–11
1977–78 Dayton 19–10NIT Quarterfinal
1978–79 Dayton 19–10NIT Second Round
1979–80 Dayton 13–14
1980–81 Dayton 18–11NIT Second Round
1981–82 Dayton 21–9NIT Quarterfinal
1982–83 Dayton 18–10
1983–84 Dayton 21–11NCAA Division I Elite Eight
1984–85 Dayton 19–10NCAA Division I First Round
1985–86 Dayton 17–13NIT First Round
1986–87 Dayton 13–15
1987–88 Dayton 13–18
Dayton Flyers (Midwestern Collegiate Conference) (1988–1989)
1988–89 Dayton 12–176–64th
Dayton: 437–2756–6
Total:437–275

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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See also
  • List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach

References
  1. http://www.collegesports.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/dayt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/postseason
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20051025020647/http://www.ncaa.org/stats/m_basketball/coaching/all_d1_coaching_records.pdf
  3. http://archive.usab.com/mens/national/moly_1984.html
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20050824192736/http://www.ohiobkcoaches.com/HallofFame/HOF2000/dondonoher.html
  5. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/sports/college-basketball/donoher-to-be-inducted-into-college-basketball-hal/nkCxh/
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