John Donovan (American football)
Encyclopedia
John Donovan is a college football
coach, currently serving as the offensive coordinator
for the Vanderbilt Commodores football
program.
football team, Donovan worked as an intern for the Carolina Panthers
. Shortly after, he moved on to take an assistant secondary coaching spot for the Villanova Wildcats football
team in 1997. That season, the Wildcats posted a 12–1 record and were ranked number one in Division I-AA. He later moved on to finish earn his master's degree from Georgia Tech
, while simultaneously serving as an assistant coach under head coach George O'Leary
. He was temporarily promoted to coach the running back
s in the 2000 Peach Bowl
after Ralph Friedgen
's departure to Maryland
. Between 2001 to 2004, he primarily served as a recruiting coordinator, under both O'Leary and Chan Gailey
.
In 2005, Donovan was reunited with former offensive coordinator
Ralph Friedgen, moving to the Terrapins football program to becoming the running backs coach. He moved to the quarterback
coach for the next two seasons, before being reassigned back to the running backs in 2008 amidst multiple coaching changes in the coaching staff. Friedgen himself was later removed as head coach of the Terrapins in December 2010, leaving many Maryland assistants to look for jobs elsewhere. With offensive coordinator James Franklin moving to take the head coaching position at Vanderbilt
, Donovan was assigned with the play calling duties for the Military Bowl, Friedgen's final game as coach. The Terrapins won the game 51–20, the most points ever scored by Maryland in a bowl game.
On January 13, 2011, Donovan was named as offensive coordinator for the Vanderbilt Commodores football team, rejoining former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach, currently serving as the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Vanderbilt Commodores football
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
program.
Coaching career
After playing for three years for the Johns Hopkins Blue JaysJohns Hopkins Blue Jays
The Johns Hopkins University's intercollegiate sports teams are called the Blue Jays , and they compete in the NCAA's Division III, except for the lacrosse teams that compete in Division I. They are primarily members of the Centennial Conference. The team colors are Columbia blue and black, and...
football team, Donovan worked as an intern for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. Shortly after, he moved on to take an assistant secondary coaching spot for the Villanova Wildcats football
Villanova Wildcats football
The Villanova Wildcats football program represents Villanova University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The Wildcats play at Villanova Stadium with capacity of 12,500.-History:...
team in 1997. That season, the Wildcats posted a 12–1 record and were ranked number one in Division I-AA. He later moved on to finish earn his master's degree from Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, while simultaneously serving as an assistant coach under head coach George O'Leary
George O'Leary
George Joseph O'Leary is the head football coach of the UCF Knights football team that represents the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida; he previously coached the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team from 1994 to 2001, and served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota...
. He was temporarily promoted to coach the running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s in the 2000 Peach Bowl
2000 Peach Bowl
The 2001 edition to the Peach Bowl featured the , and the LSU Tigers.LSU scored first on a 32 yard John Corbello field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Georgia Tech responded with a 32 yard Joe Burns touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead...
after Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
's departure to Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. Between 2001 to 2004, he primarily served as a recruiting coordinator, under both O'Leary and Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
.
In 2005, Donovan was reunited with former offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Ralph Friedgen, moving to the Terrapins football program to becoming the running backs coach. He moved to the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
coach for the next two seasons, before being reassigned back to the running backs in 2008 amidst multiple coaching changes in the coaching staff. Friedgen himself was later removed as head coach of the Terrapins in December 2010, leaving many Maryland assistants to look for jobs elsewhere. With offensive coordinator James Franklin moving to take the head coaching position at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
, Donovan was assigned with the play calling duties for the Military Bowl, Friedgen's final game as coach. The Terrapins won the game 51–20, the most points ever scored by Maryland in a bowl game.
On January 13, 2011, Donovan was named as offensive coordinator for the Vanderbilt Commodores football team, rejoining former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin.
Personal life
Donovan married his wife Stacey (née Spicer) in May 2005. The couple has three children named Patrick, Cate, and Shea.External links
- John Donovan bio at VUCommodores.com
- John Donovan bio at UMTerps.com