| Kevin Donley | |
| Current Title: | Head coach |
| Current Team: | Saint Francis (IN) |
| Current Conference: | MSFA |
| Current Record: | 234–68 |
| Birth Date: | 4 July 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1969–1972 |
| Player Team1: | Anderson (IN) |
| Player Positions: | Linebacker, fullback |
| Coach Years1: | 1973–1975 |
| Coach Team1: | Washington HS (IN) |
| Coach Years2: | 1976 |
| Coach Team2: | Anderson (IN) (LB/DL) |
| Coach Years3: | 1977 |
| Coach Team3: | Anderson (IN) (DC) |
| Coach Years4: | 1978–1981 |
| Coach Team4: | Anderson (IN) |
| Coach Years5: | 1982–1992 |
| Coach Team5: | Georgetown (KY) |
| Coach Years6: | 1993–1996 |
| Coach Team6: | California (PA) |
| Coach Years7: | 1997–present |
| Coach Team7: | Saint Francis (IN) |
| Overall Record: | 348–153–1 (college) 25–5 (high school) |
| Tournament Record: | 38–22 (NAIA playoffs) |
| Championships: | 1 NAIA Division II (1991) 2 NAIA (2016–2017) 2 Hoosier–Buckeye (1980–1981) 5 Mid-South Conference (1987, 1989–1992) 13 MSFA Mideast (1999–2006, 2008, 2012–2013, 2015, 2017) |
| Awards: | NAIA Division II Coach of the Year (1991) 3× NAIA Coach of the Year (2004, 2016, 2017) |
William Kevin Donley (born July 4, 1951) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a position he has held since April 1997. As of January 2024, Donley has completed 45 seasons as a head coach, in addition to the 1997 season which was devoted to establishing the football program at the University of Saint Francis. The Saint Francis Cougars began play the following year.
Donley currently holds the NAIA record for most wins by a NAIA football coach.[1]
Prior to Saint Francis, Donley served as the head coach at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana (1978–1981), Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky (1982–1992), and California University of Pennsylvania (1993–1996).
Donley's 2016 and 2017 Saint Francis Cougars teams won back-to-back NAIA championships, and his 1991 Georgetown Tigers team won the NAIA Division II Football National Championship.[2] In addition to the 2016 and 2017 championships, Donley led Saint Francis to three consecutive NAIA title game appearances from 2004 to 2006.
Donley has been named ACFA National Coach of the Year four times - once after each of his national championship seasons and once more after the 2004 season when his team also appeared in the championship game. For his coaching achievements, Donley has been inducted into several local, state and national halls of fame.
Donley is a native of Springfield, Ohio where he graduated from Shawnee High School in 1969. His playing career continued in college as a linebacker and fullback at Anderson College.
Donley served three seasons as the head football coach for Washington High School and amassed an overall record of 25–5.[3]
After graduating from Anderson University in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Donley returned to his alma mater in 1976 to serve as the linebackers coach and defensive line coach. After one season he was promoted to defensive coordinator. In 1978, at the age of 26, Donley was named the youngest head football coach in the country. Over the next four years, Donley's teams compiled an overall record of 28–9 (.757), winning the conference title in 1980 and 1981. Through the 2017 season, which marked 71 years of Anderson Ravens football, Donley's winning percentage stands as the best among all head coaches in program history.[4] In 1980, Donley earned a master's degree in education from Ball State University.
Donley joined the Georgetown College staff as head coach in 1982. The high point of his tenure there came in 1991 when the Tigers went 13–1 and won the NAIA Division II Football National Championship. In the 14 games that season, the Tigers scored 744 points, among the most of all college football teams at all levels of play. For his team's achievements, Donley earned his first NAIA National Coach of the Year award.
Donley served as the head coach at California University of Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1996. In four seasons, Donley's teams compiled an uncharacteristic record of 11–33.
In 1997, Donley became the first head football coach at the University of Saint Francis. After a year of preparation, the Cougars began play in the 1998 season. In his first campaign, Donley led Saint Francis to a record of 2–8, their only losing season to date. Since 1999, his teams have lost more than three games only one time, in the 2014 season. Seven of Donley's squads have completed undefeated regular seasons (2002–2006, 2008, 2015), and three consecutive teams finished as national runners-up (2004–2006).
Donley led the Cougars to their first national championship win to end the 2016 season, coming 25 years after his initial championship at Georgetown.
Donley then led the Cougars to their second national championship win in 2017. Their achievement of back-to-back championships was only the fifth time in NAIA football history that this feat has been accomplished. The achievement also resulted in the naming of Donley as national Coach of the Year for both seasons - the third and fourth time he has received this honor (Donley was also named Coach of the Year after his 2004 team appeared in but lost the championship game.
Donley has two children from Mary Mulford Donley, whom he married at Devington Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN when he was a senior in college at Anderson University (m. January 7, 1972):.[5] Currently, his son, Patrick, serves as Co-Offensive Coordinator[6] and his step-son, Joey Didier, serves as Co-Defensive Coordinator for Donley's USF football team.[7]
Donley has more wins than any other NAIA head coach. Donley has attained this record while coaching three different NAIA football programs.[21]
On November 26, 2016, Donley attained a milestone win in his career. With his team's victory in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA playoffs, Donley recorded his 300th victory as a head coach. Donley became only the 13th coach in college football history, at all levels of play, to have reached this plateau.
On November 25, 2017, Donley attained another milestone win. With his team's victory in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA playoffs, Donley recorded his 200th victory as the head coach of the Saint Francis Cougars. This victory came in Donley's 20th season as their coach.
With 326 wins at the end of the 2018 football season, Donley began the 2019 season in 7th place all-time on the college football wins list.
On November 2, 2019, Donley attained milestone victory #332. With his team's conference victory on the road against Lawrence Tech, Donley moved into a 6th place tie for all-time college football wins. The following week, the Cougars defeated Taylor University to give Donley sole possession of the 6th spot.
On October 30, 2021, Donley attained milestone victory #338. This ties Ken Sparks for 5th place all-time on the College football wins list.
On September 10, 2022, Donley took sole possession of 5th place on the all-time wins list passing Ken Sparks with victory #339.