Coach Donoher was a great coach and an even better man. I had the privilege of serving as a student manager in his program during my undergraduate years in 1973-1976. 

Thankfully he has now rejoined his beloved wife Sonia and son Gary in Heaven. Rest in peace, Coach.

Jack Adair ‘76

It was a pleasure taking care of Coach. I will never forget him giving my 2 boys high fives when they came to visit. We miss him. He was very special to us. Prayers for your family.

When meeting Mick, you got this big smile and felt like you just met your new best friend. He treated everyone with kindness and respect, making them feel important. He never thought of himself as special or expected special treatment. The most loved traits about him were being humble, kind, honest and sincere. He had a passion for life. He loved his Sonia and children first above all else. In this crazy life, Mick stands tall above the rest.  Love you Mick, Paul, Mauren, Brian.  Coz, Barb Parkison/ Shears

Family, Friends and Faith, three meaningful words that describe Coach Don Donoher. For most in the profession winning games is important but with Coach Donoher it was more than that. He taught us all how to live our lives, through his words and actions. He was a visionary and a leader whose impact will be measured in the players he coached and the people he impacted. A life filled with giving of himself. God Bless you Coach and Rest in Heavenly peace.

Paul, Maureen, and Brian,

My first memories of your dad were of watching his games on the T.V. in the living room at your Nana and Bebel's house. Over the years, our family watched him work his magic at U.D., and his ever humble response to many well-deserved accolades.

His love and devotion to his faith, family, and friends were always evident, but especially so for you and your mother.  Your parents were both so generous and kind. They made a positive impact on everyone in our family and countless others during their life journey.

May God's peace be with you as you grieve the loss of your dad and may he rest in God's arms eternally.

Your cousin, Jane Parkison Clark

My Deepest condolences to the Family. Coach was a Good man and gave me positive words that helped me in Football. 💐💐💐

Please know of our prayers from Central Catholic High School for the repose of the soul of Don! We offer Mass frequently for our alumni and friends of Central Catholic. We will continue to lift up in prayer Don and his family at Mass. May he rest in the peace of Christ.

Fr. Kidd
Priest Leader 
Central Catholic High School.

Dear Paul, Maureen & Brian,

With deepest sympathy to all of you.  I have so many memories of both you Dad and Mom that I will always treasure.  I am so sorry that I am unable to attend you Dad's   funeral Mass due to my health but I will be there in thought and prayers.

With heartfelt sympathy.
Love and prayers,
Carolyn Ludwig

I'm not sure I've met a finer individual in the coaching profession than Don Donoher.  On the many occasions Don came to Indiana during the Knight years to visit coach, he always made it a point to come see me at any practice or game just to say Hello and to sit and talk for a few minutes.  He was a total gentleman and his coaching accomplishments we're tremendous beyond the wins and losses.  And all who knew him would say the same thing!  May God rest his soul!
        Don Fischer
        I.U. Radio Network

It was a pleasure taking care of your dad. Coach will be missed at the Carlyle House.  Thinking of you all.

Janessa

To the Donoher Family, sorry to read of your loss.  Your family are in our prayers.  Coach Donoher, I  heard him   speak at the Ohio State basketball clinic  in 1982,  I used his message to the coaches that day to help my JV team that I  was coaching achieve a 17-3 record at Morgan High School.  The message was simple "OWN THE BLOCK AT BOTH ENDS OF THE BASKETBALL COURT"  I   used that nugget the rest of my 40 year coaching career.  Thank you coach.   Your humble  personally, great   character,   engaging smile, and timeless work ethic, with those  great traits, you are going to continue to be a great Flyer, when you get  your Angel wings, to keep watch over all of us here on Earth.  RIP  Coach.

My name is Terry Denbow. I never met Don Donoher. But he has been with me as "my coach" since 1970. I first wrote to him from Vietnam, as captain of The Long Binh Flyers, a three-man basketball team comprising enlisted men from The Army HQ public information  office. As  71Q20 Army Correspondents, we decided we'd be The Flyers, because "we flew like the wind." ("in war, truth is the first casualty!") I wrote to Coach Donoher and told him about us. Soon, at mail call, I received a package containing three brand-new official "Flyers" warm-ups from our coach, along with a wonderful note.  There was a story in the Dayton News and the Beaver (Pa) Times, my hometown paper.  We had three daughters who for years wore those sacred shirts to bed; and when the letters/numbers fell off after the fourth daughter was born, I asked Brian Gregory for another one, which he sent. I was born at Wright-Patterson, and soon left,  but my love of Dayton was born in Sotheast Asia, when I became a Flyer, an honor bestowed by a legend I never would meet, but who would remain with me and my family from afar. I worked with Joe Paterno, Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, Tom Izzo, Mark Dantonio, and others but "my" hall of fame coach in Dayton holds a very special place. Deo Gratias for him.  Terry Denbow, Vice President Emeritus, Michigan State University, DAYTON FLYER FOREVER.

I’m so sorry for your dad’s passing. My name is sandy (Mann) bell. I be only met Maurine. My dad was jack Mann. He worked with don at ud arena.  I knew your mom from drug store. Just wanted to let you know your mother and father were both the most pleasant people to know. All of you are in my thoughts. Sandy bell

I never had the privilege of meeting Coach Donoher, but I was blessed to work with Maureen a few months ago. The love that she emanates for her father is tangible and a true testament to what a great man he was. My heart goes out to all who knew him. Thoughts and prayers to family, friends, players, and anyone who may have looked up to this wonderful human <3

I feel so honored to be able to call Don my friend. His legacy of goodness and concern for others will endure forever. Never self promotive, he always passed on praise to others. Don was a man of great faith and so loved his wife and children. He remained devoted to his former players throughout his life. We will not see his like again. Rest in peace Don with Sonia and Gary.

Whenever we were visiting, Scott Stemple and I used to meet with Coach Donoher at Bob Evans Restaurant, his favorite breakfast spot.  Scott said to me the other night,  "He was really good to us, Bob, and he didn't have to be.  But that was who he was.  Sent from Heaven, and now he returns there..."    Don Donoher was one in a million.  Great coach, even better human being.   Our condolences to the family.

Nancy Kier Barnes '69
I was honored to work with Mick for just a few weeks while we initiated in starting up an inventory management project for UD.   I enjoyed working with him and respected and admired him very much.  
Hope they play basketball where you are now.

Even though I went to OSU as opposed to UD, Don and I became very close friends over the years.  We were both involved with the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and also were joint emcees for the Stivers Hall of Fame celebrations.  Don was the greatest Coach in UD basketball history and even a better person.  I always enjoyed my times spent with him.... a very classy and humble person and one of the best ever in his profession.  The University of Dayton and the entire Dayton community benefited greatly by the life of Don Donoher.  Rest in peace my friend.    Bill Hosket

A funny memory: At the Wings office one morning,  Coach came in and very seriously said, "I'd like to see you in my office in five minutes." He walked down the hall and said the same thing to Anthony Gabriele. Five minutes later, with trepidation, we went into his office. He said, "Have a seat .  (Pause.) The reason I called you both here...was to...ask you what horse you like in the fifth race at Aquaduct." Whew! 

When I first met Coach he scared the stuffing out of me. I called him Mr. Donoher. After a few years I called him Coach Donoher and a few years after that I called him Mick. But I am most honored to have called him friend .

Karen McTaggart

I recall working with Coach at Chaminade as a manager for the freshman team.  That was a long time ago!

Dennis McTaggart

Our sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues.

My brother Ted and I had the great honor of playing for the Flyers and Coach Donoher in the early 70’s. It wasn’t until later on in life that I realized just how fortunate we really were. What an absolute blessing! A great coach and a greater man! Our condolences to the family and please know you’re in our thoughts and prayers.

One of the finest people I had the privilege of meeting. The Coach presented a UD Basketball program for us at the UD Osher Lifelong Learning Institute several years ago. He brought back several of his players, & had several members of the class join him down front to demonstrate the Wooden offense he used against UCLA in the National Championship game in 1997. Everyone loved the class. 
RIP Coach Donoher.  Your Legacy will live forever in the hearts & minds of UD Fans and our community.  I extend  my condolences to all the members of your family.
Jim Carroll

RIP Coach!  We share birthdays, January 21st. A Dayton legend that will never be forgotten.

OBITUARY

Donald James Donoher

21 January, 1932 – 12 April, 2024

Tobias Funeral Home - Far Hills Chapel

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