Donald Donoher (January 21, 1932 – April 12, 2024) was an American 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.

Early years

Donoher began his career as a basketball player at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio from 1947 to 1950.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

Blackburn had been suffering from cancer for most of the 1963–64 season.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} 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 was 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 November 20, 2015, Donoher was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame alongside fellow Final Four coach Lou Henson.^[5] In 2017, Donoher received the prestigious Dean Smith Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for embodying the spirit and values of the Hall of Fame North Carolina coach.^[6]

In 1998, the University of Dayton named the new state of the art addition to the University of Dayton Arena after Donoher.^[7]

Later life and death

Donoher continued to reside in Dayton, Ohio, returning to basketball as an assistant coach at Bishop Fenwick High School in Middletown, Ohio,^[8] where grandchildren Kevin and Shannon attended. Donoher was a celebrated guest at the March 7, 2020, first-ever College GameDay broadcast from the University of Dayton.^[9]

Donoher's wife of 66 years, Sonia Donoher, died on November 17, 2020.^[10] On April 12, 2024, Don Donoher died at the age of 92.^[8] Before his death, he was the oldest living basketball coach to have coached a Final Four team.^[11]

Head coaching record