Jim Donnan (2008) - Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame

Jim Donnan

Induction:
2008

Under the tutelage of Coach Jim Donnan, the Marshall football team reached unprecedented heights from 1990-95, highlighted by the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA national championship win over Youngstown State. The Burlington, N.C., native came to Marshall after serving as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, and in his six seasons with the Thundering Herd won 64 games, took three teams to national title games, produced 18 All-Americans, 50 All-Southern Conference honorees, six league offensive or defensive players of the year, and had quarterback Michael Payton named the winner of the 1992 Walter Payton Award as the Division I-AA National Player of the Year. Donnan left Marshall to become head coach at the University of Georgia where he led the Bulldogs to a 40-19 record and four bowl wins in five seasons at the helm of the Southeastern Conference program. After his coaching career, Donnan moved into the media world, becoming a television, radio and online analyst for ESPN and the American Sports Network. Donnan was named the West Virginia College Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. He was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.