WC names Donnelly as men's basketball coach Print E-mail
Coyote News - Coyote Basketball
Wednesday, 11 June 2008 00:00
Dave DonnellyWEATHERFORD - Weatherford College has announced the hiring of Dave Donnelly as kinesiology instructor and head men's basketball coach.

Donnelly comes to Weatherford after one season as assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University, a Division I NCAA institution in the Mid-American Conference. He spent nine years at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), including five years as a full-time assistant coach. UIC, also NCAA Division I, competes in the Horizon League with the likes of Butler, Valparaiso, and Wright State.

Described as a tireless worker, Donnelly's responsibilities at UIC included off-campus recruiting, on-the-floor coaching, opponent scouting and game preparation, financial aid guidance, and housing assistance. During his five years on the coaching staff, UIC won 90 games, earned their first ever NIT bid in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.

Prior to his stint in Chicago, Donnelly gained NJCAA experience as an assistant coach at Sauk Valley College in Dixon, Ill.

Donnelly began his coaching career while serving in the United States Navy, where his squad participated in the East Coast Championships in each of the two years he was assigned as head coach. While in the U.S. Navy, he was assigned to Assault Craft Unit Two in Virginia Beach, Va., and earned the distinguished "Sailor of the Year" award in 1992.

"I've heard so many good things about Weatherford College and the community," Donnelly said.  "With the support, along with the resources Weatherford College has, I believe that Weatherford basketball can be one of the premier programs in the country.  I'm extremely excited about the opportunity."

Donnelly earned his Master of Science degree in sports management/physical education from UIC in 2000. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Northern Illinois University in 1997 and an Associate of Science degree in education from Sauk Valley College in 1995.

A native of Aurora, Ill., Donnelly was a three-sport standout in basketball, football and track at Tampico High School. As a prep athlete, Donnelly earned honorable mention all-state honors in basketball, as well as all-district accolades in football and track.

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