| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1942-10-15) October 15, 1942 (age 82) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1962–1964 | Middle Tennessee |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1967–1973 | Father Ryan HS (TN) (assistant) |
| 1974–1975 | Father Ryan HS (TN) |
| 1976 | Vanderbilt (offensive backfield) |
| 1977–1978 | Austin Peay |
| 1979–1998 | Middle Tennessee |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2000–2005 | Middle Tennessee |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 154–94–1 (college) 21–2 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 7–7 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 5 OVC (1977, 1985, 1989–1990, 1992) | |
| Awards | |
| 4× OVC Coach of the Year (1977, 1983, 1985, 1989) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2013 (profile) | |
James F. "Boots" Donnelly (born October 15, 1942) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Austin Peay State University from 1977 to 1978 and at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) from 1979 to 1998, compiling a career college football coaching record of 154–94–1. Donnelly was inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame in 1993! He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013.
Playing career
Donnelly was a defensive back at MTSU; his playing career culminated with an MTSU victory in the 1964 Grantland Rice Bowl.
Coaching career
Donnelly began his coaching career at his alma mater, Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as the head football coach there from 1974 to 1975, tallying a mark of 21–2. His 1974 team went 13–0 and won the Tennessee Class AAA title. In 1976 Donnelly joined the football staff at Vanderbilt University, coaching the offensive backfield under head coach, Fred Pancoast. Donnelly went on to be the head coach at Austin Peay for two seasons, and at MTSU for twenty seasons.
Later life
After the conclusion of his coaching career, Donnelly served as athletic director at MTSU for several years. In 2006, he became CEO of Backfield in Motion, an organization dedicated to fostering academic and athletic abilities among inner city youth. In October 2015, a statue of Donnelly was unveiled on the MTSU campus.
Head coaching record
College
References
- "Blue Raider Hall of Fame". Middle Tennessee State University. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- ^ "NFF to induct Boots Donnelly into Hall of Fame". The Daily Herald. May 30, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- "'Boots' To Head Governors". Kentucky New Era. December 14, 1976. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
- Organ, Mike (October 3, 2015). "Boots Donnelly statue unveiled at MTSU". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
Further reading
- Cleary, Rafferty (December 6, 2013). "MTSU's hidden architect: James "Boots" Donnelly". InThe BINN. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via YouTube.
External links
- Boots Donnelly at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Boots Donnelly photo playing in the 1964 Grantland Rice Bowl
- Backfield in Motion homepage
| Austin Peay Governors head football coaches | |
|---|---|
# denotes interim head coach |
| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head football coaches | |
|---|---|
|
| Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders athletic directors | |
|---|---|
# denotes interim athletic director |
- 1942 births
- Living people
- American football defensive backs
- Austin Peay Governors football coaches
- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders athletic directors
- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football coaches
- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football players
- Vanderbilt Commodores football coaches
- High school football coaches in Tennessee
- College Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Coaches of American football from Tennessee
- Players of American football from Nashville, Tennessee