Dennis F. Donaldson was born on December 10, 1948 in Washington,
DC. He competed in Basketball as well as Track and Field for
Anacostia High School before graduation in 1967 and heading south
to the University of Corpus Christi.
Donaldson began his illustrious basketball career at UCC in
1967. He was a member of the 1968-1969 NAIA National
Tournament team which finished the season with a thirteen game
winning streak. He served as team captain for the UCC Tarpons for 3
years from 1968-1971 and received Honorable Mention recognition as
a Small College All-American in 1969-1970. He was active off
the court as well being named “Who’s Who in American
Colleges” and Mr. University of Corpus Christi during his
junior year (1969-1970). During his senior year he was
selected as the Circle K Player of the Year and voted Most Likely
to Succeed by his classmates.
Donaldson graduated from UCC with a B.S. in Physical
Education and Social Studies in 1971 and had a tryout with the New
Jersey Nets of the old ABA that same year. He earned a
Masters Degree in Secondary Education from the University of
Southwestern Louisiana in 1974 at which time he began his teaching
and coaching career. From 1974-1979, Donaldson served as a
Physical Education teacher and Head Basketball coach at Comeaux
High School Lafayette, La. He moved up in the coaching ranks
as he accepted a position as the Assistant Basketball Coach at the
University of Southwestern Louisiana and served in that position
from 1979-1986. Donaldson would then move his family to
Florida where he served as the Associate Basketball Coach at the
University of South Florida from 1986-1996. Some of his
coaching highlights include five NIT Tournament appearances, one
NIT Final Four appearance, four NCAA Tournament Appearances, a
Great Alaska Shootout Championship, and Sugar Bowl
Championship.
After 18 seasons in the college ranks, Donaldson accepted a
position at Blake High School in Tampa Bay, Fl. where he served as
a Physical Education teacher and Head Basketball Coach from
1996-2000. From Blake, he would move to Alonso High School in
Tampa Bay where he served as a Physical Education teacher and Head
Basketball Coach from 2001-2006. Donaldson would retire the
whistle and tennis shoes for a coat and tie when he decided to earn
an Educational Leadership Degree. He accepted the position as
Assistant Principal for Student Affairs at Alonso from 2006-2008
before being promoted to Assistant Principal for Administration at
King HS, where he serves today.
Donaldson has numerous professional affiliations including the
Florida High School Coaches Association, Tampa Bay Basketball
Coaches Association, Phi Delta Kappa, National Association of
Basketball Coaches, and Assistant Coaches Board of Directors.
He was recognized as High School Coach of the Year in 1979 by the
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was also served as an Assistant
Coach to John Thompson for the 1988 Olympic Selection
Committee.
While attending UCC, Donaldson met his bride of 37 years, Lois
Donaldson, a former UCC cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. They have
two sons: Derek and Sean.
