Jack Donohue was a Canadian basketball coaching legend. He coached the men’s national team from 1972 to 1988. Donohue is highly regarded for taking Canadian basketball to new heights.
A native New Yorker, Donohue officially began his international coaching career in 1972. He helped turn the Canadian squad into a force to be reckoned with. In Montreal in 1976, Donohue steered the Olympic Canadian squad with players like Phil Tollestrup, Bill Robinson, Lars Hansen, James Russell and Martin Riley to a fourth-place finish.
At the 1983 World University Games in Edmonton, Donohue guided the Canadian squad to gold and glory. A year later, the team returned to the Olympic field. Led by guard Jay Triano, the side finished fourth. Donohue’s last time at the helm was at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where Canada came in sixth.
Donohue’s indelible imprint on the sport precedes his time in Canada. He coached at the famous Power Memorial Academy in New York. One of his players was Lew Alcindor. Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, became one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.
From 1965 to 1972, Donohue led Holy Cross University in Massachusetts. He was twice named NCAA Division One Coach of the Year.
Donohue is enshrined in the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame, the New York Basketball Hall of Fame and the Terry Fox Hall of Fame.
Jack Donohue was a Canadian basketball coaching legend. He coached the men’s national team from 1972 to 1988. Donohue is highly regarded for taking Canadian basketball to new heights.
A native New Yorker, Donohue officially began his international coaching career in 1972. He helped turn the Canadian squad into a force to be reckoned with. In Montreal in 1976, Donohue steered the Olympic Canadian squad with players like Phil Tollestrup, Bill Robinson, Lars Hansen, James Russell and Martin Riley to a fourth-place finish.
At the 1983 World University Games in Edmonton, Donohue guided the Canadian squad to gold and glory. A year later, the team returned to the Olympic field. Led by guard Jay Triano, the side finished fourth. Donohue’s last time at the helm was at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where Canada came in sixth.
Donohue’s indelible imprint on the sport precedes his time in Canada. He coached at the famous Power Memorial Academy in New York. One of his players was Lew Alcindor. Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, became one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.
From 1965 to 1972, Donohue led Holy Cross University in Massachusetts. He was twice named NCAA Division One Coach of the Year.
Donohue is enshrined in the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame, the New York Basketball Hall of Fame and the Terry Fox Hall of Fame. 
