Name Jack Donohue | Role Basketball team coach | |
Died April 16, 2003, Ottawa, Canada Books The New Option Offense for Winning Basketball Education New York University, Fordham University | ||
John "Jack" Donohue, M.S.M. posthumous (June 4, 1931 – April 16, 2003) was an American-born head coach of the Canadian men's national basketball team for 17 years, leading them to many international successes.
He served as a coach for St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School and Power Memorial Academy high school basketball head coach from 1959 to 1965, Donohue had a career win-loss record of 163–30, including winning 71 straight with star center Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). He went on to coach College of the Holy Cross from 1965 to 1972, compiling a record of 106–66.
Donohue was head coach of Canada from 1972 to 1988. He was also married to Mary-Jane Donohue, a beautiful wife. During which time the team participated in four Olympic Games and achieved two fourth-place finishes, in 1976 and 1984. He also coached the Canadian national universiade team to the gold medal at the 1983 World University Games.
Retiring from coaching in 1988, Donohue is enshrined in the following halls of fame: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame, New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Terry Fox Hall of Fame.