Ursinus alum Steve Donahue named head coach at University of Pennsylvania

Ursinus alum Steve Donahue named head coach at University of Pennsylvania

Press conference video

PHILADELPHIA – In one of the historic – if not the most historic – gymnasiums in America, Ursinus alumnus Steve Donahue was introduced as the 20th head coach of The University of Pennsylvania men's basketball program on Tuesday afternoon. A press conference, attended by Penn alums, fans, adminstrators and in addition to several Ursinus alums, was held at The Palestra.

Donahue, a 1984 graduate of Ursinus, was an assistant coach at Penn from 1990 until 2000, before taking the head coaching job at Cornell. He led the Big Red to three straight Ivy League titles and a Sweet 16 trip in 2010. After that, he spent four years as the head coach at Boston College, leading the Eagles to the NIT during the 2010-11 campaign.

During his time at Ursinus, he was a member of the basketball team that reached the NCAA Division III Semifinals under Ursinus College Hall of Fame member Skip Werley. The Bears returned to the NCAA tournament the following season. He also played baseball for Ursinus, before graduating in 1984. He then had stints as an assistant coach at Springfield (Pa.) High School, Monsignor Bonner and at Philadelphia University under Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee.