| Coach Anne Donovan | |
|---|---|
| WNBA's New York Liberty | |
| Born | November 1, 1961 Ridgewood, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| College | Old Dominion |
| WNBA career | 2000–present |
| Regular season | 145–138 (.512) |
| Postseason | 12–14 (.462) |
| Championships | 1 (2004) |
| Profile | WNBA Info Page |
| WNBA Head Coach of | |
| Indiana Fever (2000) Charlotte Sting (2001-2002) Seattle Storm (2003-2007) New York Liberty (2009-present) |
|
| WNBA Assistant Coach of | |
| New York Liberty (2009) | |
| Olympic medal record | ||
| Women's Basketball | ||
|---|---|---|
Competitor for  United States |
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| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | Venezuela 1983 | Team Competition |
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | Los Angeles 1984 | Team Competition |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | USA 1987 | Team Competition |
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | Seoul 1988 | Team Competition |
Anne Donovan (born November 1, 1961 in Ridgewood, New Jersey) is one of the most decorated figures in women's basketball, both as a college player and as a head coach in the WNBA. With the Seattle Storm, she became the first female coach to win a WNBA title, and the only person to have both played to a national women's college title and coached a team to a professional title. She is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Donovan joined the New York Liberty as an assistant coach in the spring of 2009, then took over as Interim Head Coach of the Liberty on July 31, 2009.
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Amateur career
After attending Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey, the 6' 8" Donovan was the most recruited player in the nation going into college. At Old Dominion University (ODU), the center led the Lady Monarchs to the 1979-80 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women basketball championship (this was before the NCAA disbanded the AIAW). She was the first female Naismith College Player of the Year in 1983. She set ODU career marks for points (2,719), rebounds (1,976), and blocked shots (801), and seasonal marks for most games played (38), most minutes played (1,159), most field goals (377), and field goal percentage (.640). She averaged a double-double for her entire career, with 20 points and 14 1/2 rebounds per game. Donovan's 50 points in a single game against Norfolk State on December 11, 1980 is still a school record, while her 801 career blocked shots is still best in NCAA history.
While at ODU, Donovan helped the Lady Monarchs win the 1980 AIAW national title (their second straight) with a 37-1 record. In 1981, ODU finished third in the AIAW National Tournament, having compiled a 28-7 record.
The first two NCAA Women's Final Fours (1982 and 1983) were hosted by ODU at Scope in Norfolk, Va. In 1982, Old Dominion (28-7) lost to Kansas St. in the East Regional Semifinals. In Donovan's senior year, the Lady Monarchs (29-6) advanced to the 1983 Final Four in their home town, but lost 71-55 in the National Semifinals to their then arch rivals from Louisiana Tech.
Pro career
As there were few professional opportunities for women professional basketball players in the U.S., Donovan played pro ball in Shizuoka, Japan and Modena, Italy from 1983 to 1989.
Coaching career
Upon her retirement as a player, she became an assistant coach at ODU from 1989-1995, then head coach at East Carolina University from 1995-1997, reaching the Colonial Athletic Association finals against her alma mater, Old Dominion. Her coaching career moved to the pro ranks via a brief stint with the American Basketball League's Philadelphia Rage in 1997-1998. As the ABL folded, she joined the rival WNBA, where she coached the Indiana Fever for the 2000 season, then led the Charlotte Sting to the WNBA Finals in 2001, losing to the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2002, she led the Charlotte Sting to an 18-14 record, losing to the Washington Mystics in the first round of playoffs.
Donovan was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995,[1] and as part of the inaugural class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.[2]
In 2003, Donovan was hired as the second head coach of the Seattle Storm, inheriting a team with two number one draft picks from 2001 and 2002, the Australian Lauren Jackson and University of Connecticut star Sue Bird. In her first year, Donovan's team narrowly missed the playoffs, but in 2004, after Donovan became director of player personnel and added Betty Lennox, the Storm earned the city of Seattle its first national championship in 25 years.
In the 2005 season, in which Donovan became the first female coach to win 100 games, the Storm made the playoffs but lost in the first round. At season's end, Donovan's contract was extended to keep her in Seattle for several years.
With her 120th victory on August 6, 2006, she became the coach with the third most WNBA victories, passing former Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper. She trails only Van Chancellor and Richie Adubato in victories.
On November 30, 2007 Anne resigned from her position of head coach of the Seattle Storm.
On April 28, 2009 Anne was appointed as an Assistant Coach for the New York Liberty. She assumed the title of Interim Head Coach of the Liberty on July 31, 2009, replacing former head coach Pat Coyle.
USA Basketball
A three-time Olympian, she earned gold medals in 1984 and 1988. Her team did not go to the Olympics in 1980, due to the 1980 Olympic boycott.
Donovon also played on two USA Women's Pan American Teams. She played on the 1983 team, winning the gold in Venezuela,[3] and on the 1987 team winning the gold in Indianapolis, Indiana.[4]
In January 2006, USA Basketball named Donovan head coach of the 2008 Beijing Olympics US women's team.[5] She had been the assistant coach of the team four years earlier. Her USA team won the Gold medal, beating Australia.
Awards and honors
- Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American while at ODU.
- Inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1994.
- Inducted into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
- Inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
- Received the NCAA 25 Year Award on January 13, 2008.
- On October 24, 2004, she was named by the Sun Belt Conference as its All-Time Women's basketball Player.
- Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the 109th commencement ceremony (December 13, 2008) from Old Dominion University in recognition of her recent and past contributions to Women's Basketball.
- In May 2009, she was named to the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which honors athletes, coaches and administrators who contributed to sports in southeastern Virginia.
External
- Seattle Storm bio
- Basketball Travelers photo
- 120th victory
- Anne Donovan resigns as Head coach of the Storm
- Liberty Fires Coyle and Names Donovan as Interim
References
- ^ "Hall of Famers". Basketball Hall of Fame. http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/anne-t-donovan. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ "WBHOF Inductees". WBHOF. http://www.wbhof.com/inductees.html. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ "NINTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1983". USA Basketball. http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=wpag_1983. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ^ "TENTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1987". USA Basketball. http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=wpag_1987. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ^ "Games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad -- 2008". USA Basketball. http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=woly_2008. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
| Preceded by — |
Naismith College Player of the Year (women's) 1983 |
Succeeded by Cheryl Miller |
| Preceded by — |
Indiana Fever Head Coach 2000 |
Succeeded by Nell Fortner |
| Preceded by T.R. Dunn |
Charlotte Sting Head Coach 2001–2002 |
Succeeded by Trudi Lacey |
| Preceded by Lin Dunn |
Seattle Storm Head Coach 2003- 2007 |
Succeeded by Brian Agler |
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