Penn assistant named new coach of varsity men's basketball team

Steve Donahue, who has served as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years, has been named head men's basketball coach at Cornell. The announcement was made Sept. 6 by Cornell Athletic Director Andy Noel at a news conference in Schoellkopf Hall. Donahue replaces Scott Thompson, who stepped down from the position in July.

New men's varsity basketball coach Steve Donahue, left, President Hunter Rawlings and Athletic Director Andy Noel meet the press following the announcement of Donahue's appointment Sept. 6 in Schoellkopf Hall. Matthew Fondeur/University Photography

"We are very fortunate to have a coach of Steve Donahue's talent and determination join our staff," Noel said. "Steve is the ideal leader to advance our men's basketball program within the competitive Ivy League and beyond."

"I feel it is a privilege to be named head coach at Cornell University," Donahue said. "I look forward to joining the Cornell family and working hard to bring the highest success to the basketball program on and off the court."

As an assistant at Penn, Donahue served as the team's recruiting coordinator and developed the team's offensive strategy. His duties also included practice preparation, game coaching, scouting and academic monitoring of players. In his time as a Penn assistant, Donahue was heavily involved in the recruitment of five of the top 20 all-time scorers in Pennsylvania basketball history. He also was instrumental in the Quakers winning six Ivy League titles in the past eight years, advancing to the NCAA tournament five times and earning national recognition with a top-25 ranking. Previously, Donahue served as the head coach of the Quakers' junior varsity program from 1990 to 1995 and compiled a record of 75-12.

A 1984 graduate of Ursinus College, Pa., with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and business administration, Donahue currently is working on his master's degree in organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania. As a senior at Ursinus, Donahue was co-captain of both the baseball and basketball teams and earned four letters in both sports.