ETSU men’s basketball head coach Jason Shay added a familiar face to his coaching staff. Shay announced on Friday that Chad Donley has been named Director of Basketball Operations.
“I am ecstatic to be a part of Coach Shay’s staff,” said Donley, who was selected as one of the 50 Impactful JUCO coaches in the country last month by Silver Waves Media. “I knew he was one of the best in the business when he first started coaching me nine years ago. His basketball mind is second-to-none, and he’s an even better person and mentor. I am humbled and excited to be a part of the legacy he will leave at ETSU.”
This marks Donley’s second stint at ETSU as he was a graduate assistant from 2015-17, in which, the Buccaneers went to the 2017 NCAA Tournament after winning the Southern Conference Tournament.
“I’m very excited to bring Chad Donley back to the ETSU family,” said Shay. “I had the privilege coaching Chad and mentoring him in his pursuit to become a coach. He has a great work ethic and will do a great job. He knows exactly what I want and how I want things done, so there is chemistry already there.”
During his two seasons in Johnson City, the Buccaneers won 51 games, while Desonta Bradford earned 2017 SoCon Player of the Year honors and T.J. Cromer received SoCon Tournament MVP. Overall, the Bucs had six all-conference selections with Donley on staff, while ETSU defeated Georgia Tech in 2015-16 and Mississippi State in 2016-17.
Following his stop at ETSU, Donley spent one season as an assistant coach at Pensacola State in 2017-18, and just concluded a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Daytona State College. During his time at Pensacola State, the Pirates won 17 games and finished third in the Panhandle Conference. Coach Donley assisted four students who earned all-conference honors.
During Donley’s two years at Daytona State College, the Falcons registered 42 wins, and had 11 players sign with Division I programs, including 2019 Mid-Florida Player of the Year Khadim Sy going to University of Mississippi. In his first season at Daytona State, the Falcons went 25-7 and 9-3 in conference play en route to earning a bid to the Region 8 Tournament. Six players off the 2018-19 roster went on to sign with Division I programs, including four first team All Mid-Florida and two second team all-conference selections. In Donley’s second season, five more players signed with Division I programs.
Donley played collegiately at Northwest Florida State, Liberty and Morehead State. The Baker, Florida native began his playing career under Coach Shay at Northwest Florida – where after redshirting his first year – Donley was a starter on the Raiders’ team that went 32-2 and were the NJCAA National Runner-up. Donley also led Northwest Florida to the Panhandle Conference Championship and Region XIII Championship.
Following his time at Northwest Florida, Donley signed with Liberty where he helped the Flames capture the 2013 Big South Championship and appear in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Donley then spent his final year as a graduate transfer at Morehead State.
Donley earned his bachelor’s degree from Liberty University in Interdisciplinary Studies with cognates in business and communication. He earned his master’s degree from ETSU in Sport Management.
