Don Feeley Explained

John Donald Feeley
Birth Date:30 October 1937
Birth Place:Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
Death Place:Southbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma Mater:Bridgeport
Coach Sport1:Basketball
Coach Years2:1965–1978
Coach Team2:Sacred Heart
Coach Years3:1978–1980
Coach Team3:Yale (assistant)
Coach Years4:1980–1983
Admin Years1:1965–1978
Admin Team1:Sacred Heart
Overall Record:285–148
Championships:ECAC regular season (1982)

John Donald Feeley (October 30, 1937 – September 18, 2020) was an American college men's basketball coach. He was the head coach at Sacred Heart University for 13 years and at Fairleigh Dickinson University for three. While at Sacred Heart, Feeley also served as the school's athletic director.[1] Feeley compiled an overall coaching record of 285–148, including an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship in 1981–82.[2]

In the summer of 1983, Feeley discovered 7'6" Sudanese teenager (and future NBA player) Manute Bol while he was playing for the Sudanese national team.[3] Shortly before his discovery, Feeley had been let go by Fairleigh Dickinson due to 'imcompatible' philosophies with the school.[4] Feeley tried using his connections with Cleveland State University to get himself an assistant coaching job, largely with the allure of bringing Bol with him.[5] It did not work out, and Bol eventually enrolled at the University of Bridgeport.[5]

Feeley finished head coaching with a career record of 285 wins and 148 losses. He died on September 18, 2020.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bike and SHU's success go hand in hand. Elsberry. Chris. November 13, 2010. CTpost.com. Connecticut Post. April 12, 2016.
  2. Web site: Donald Feeley Coaching Record. sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. April 12, 2016.
  3. News: The King Dinka Dunker: 7-6 Herdsman To NBA?. Albom. Mitch. February 20, 1985. Sun-Sentinel . April 12, 2016.
  4. Web site: Fairleigh Dickinson head basketball coach Jay Donald Feeley will.... March 29, 1983. United Press International. April 12, 2016.
  5. News: 7 Feet 6: Bol Enters Big Time. L.. Peter. March 5, 1985. The Washington Post. April 12, 2016.
  6. News: Jacobs . Jeff . Jeff Jacobs: From Fairfield to Sudan, former SHU coach Don Feeley followed a long, unconventional road . November 28, 2020 . . September 23, 2020 . November 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201125022341/https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/jeffjacobs/ctpost/article/Jeff-Jacobs-From-Fairfield-to-Sudan-former-SHU-15592502.php . dead .