Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Dave Donnelly is in his first season as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Eastern Michigan University.
The 37-year-old Donnelly joins the EMU staff after serving as a member of the UIC men’s basketball staff for the previous nine years, two as a graduate assistant coach, two as an administrative assistant coach and the last five as a full-time assistant.
During his UIC tenure, Donnelly was involved in all facets of the program and served in a variety of roles. A tireless worker, Donnelly’s responsibilities included: off-campus recruiting, on-the-floor coaching, opponent scouting and game preparation, future opponent scheduling, financial aid guidance, housing assistance, summer job program coordination, basketball prospect mailings, video exchange program and director of the Jimmy Collins Summer Basketball Camp. Donnelly’s primary responsibility on the court includes working with the Flames’ post players and team defense.
Donnelly’s work paid dividends for UIC as the Flames racked up 90 wins the last five years while advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 to go along with an Horizon League championship. UIC also earned the school’s first-ever NIT bid in 2003. Aside from his coaching duties at UIC, Donnelly currently serves on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Assistant Coaches Board.
Donnelly joined the UIC staff after three years as an assistant coach at Sauk Valley College in Dixon, Ill. During his tenure with the Skyhawks, SVC advanced to the Region IV Final Four all three years and were ranked 23rd in the NJCAA Division I final poll in 1996 and 28th in 1998.
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.
In addition to his coaching and military career, Donnelly has been a coach/clinician at numerous basketball camps throughout the nation.
Donnelly earned his Master of Science in Sports Management/Physical Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2000. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Northern Illinois University in 1997 and an Associate of Science 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.
Donnelly is married to the former Amy Eubanks.
