Edward Welch Donahoo

Edward (Ed) Welch Donahoo passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. He was 82 years old. Ed was known affectionately by so many as Coach Donahoo. He positively impacted hundreds of lives through his many friendships, service in the Church, and coaching career mentoring young people. Ed was the son of Henry A. (Don) Donahoo, a retired FBI agent, and Ruby Welch Donahoo. Ed was born in Charleston, South Carolina and raised in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 1953, at the age of 11, Ed was a member of the Alabama little league baseball team that won the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The team was inducted in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and remains the only team in Alabama history to accomplish this feat. As a senior at Ramsey High School, where he played football, basketball, and ran track, Ed was selected by the Birmingham News as Birmingham’s “Most Outstanding Football Player” and received a scholarship to play football at the University of Alabama for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. After a severe knee injury at Alabama, Ed transferred to Howard College, now Samford University, where he played for three seasons, one season under famed head coach Bobby Bowden. His senior season he was recognized as the captain of the team and “Most Outstanding Defensive Player.”

Ed began his coaching career as the head basketball coach at West End High School in Birmingham, AL earning “Coach of the Year” honors in 1971. Ed went on to become the freshman team coach at the University of South Alabama, where he received a master’s degree in 1973. Afterward, he served as assistant basketball coach at Samford University for several years. Ed met and fell in love with his beloved wife of 51 years, Sue Walker Donahoo, while in Birmingham during this time. He spent these years in insurance sales while raising a family together with Sue. In 1987, Ed returned to coaching as the head basketball coach and junior high football coach at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, Alabama. He received basketball “Coach of the Year'' honors in 1989 after a record of 28-2. He continued coaching high school basketball at various schools until 1999.

Afterward, he went on to hold various roles with the Faulkner University and Alabama Christian Academy basketball programs in Montgomery, AL. He passionately supported these programs, coaches, players, and administrations until he passed away. Ed is survived by his wife Sue, children Allison Hilyer (David) of Montgomery, AL, Christine Adcock (Len) of Brentwood, TN, Edward Donahoo (Stacy) of Tallahassee, FL and grandchildren Ford Hilyer, Copeland Hilyer and Ann Welch Hilyer, Will Adcock, Walker Adcock and Andrew Adcock, and Theo Donahoo and brother Jim Donahoo (Carol) of Summit, NJ.. Ed had a lifelong passion for creating relationships through sports and Christian ministry. He truly never met a stranger and is remembered with great fondness by so many people that he connected with throughout his life.

Visitation will be Sunday, January 7, at 1 p.m. at the Vaughn Park Church of Christ in Montgomery, Alabama with the service at 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama Saturday, January 13 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Faulkner University basketball program; Faulkner University, 5345 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Alabama, 36109.