PHILADELPHIA – Saint Joseph's men's basketball head coach Billy Lange announced the hiring of veteran mentor Steve Donahue as associate head coach on Tuesday. Donahue brings more than three decades of Division I experience to the Hawks' bench.
 
"We are thrilled to add coach Donahue to our staff and culture," said Lange. "Steve brings a wealth of head coaching experience and passion for teaching the game on a granular level. In the last 30 years, there is not a single person I have talked more with about basketball philosophies, the challenge of head coaching leadership and the pursuit of daily improvement than Steve. I have been blessed to work alongside some great basketball minds and I hold Steve in the highest regard as a coach. He will sharpen our team and staff as a whole."
 
Donahue most recently spent nine seasons as the head coach across the city at Penn. While with the Quakers, he mentored 15 All-Ivy League selections and was named the Ivy League Coach of the Year for the 2017-18 season when he guided Penn to the NCAA Tournament. In 2018-19, the Quakers won the Philadelphia Big 5 for the first time since 2001-02 with a perfect 4-0 record.
 
Donahue expressed excitement about joining the staff at St. Joe's.
 
"I have the chance to help build on two strong seasons and contribute to St. Joe's winning the A-10 and making a deep NCAA Tournament run," remarked Donahue. "I get to work alongside Coach Lange—someone I truly respect and can learn a great deal from and be part of a great university that fully supports basketball, from President Dr. Cheryl A. McConnell and Athletic Director Jill Bodensteiner to our incredible alumni base."
 
In his first head coaching assignment, Donahue took over a Cornell team that went 10-17 the year prior to his arrival and turned it into a perennial power, winning at least 21 games in each of his final three seasons with the Big Red. Cornell went to the NCAA Tournament in all three years, culminating in a 29-5 record in 2009-10, advancing to the Sweet 16 with wins against No. 17 Temple and No. 13 Wisconsin.
 
Prior to taking the reins at Penn, Donahue spent four seasons as the head coach at Boston College, leading the Eagles to 21 wins in 2010-11 and a Second Round performance in the NIT.
 
"St. Joe's has always been a big part of my family," said Donahue. "Five siblings, including my sister Kathy — who worked at St. Joe's for nearly 40 years — attended the university, as did my son Matthew. Uncles, nieces, cousins, you name it. It's more than a job, it's home."