 McDonnell in 2008 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1938-07-02)July 2, 1938 County Mayo, Ireland |
| Died | June 7, 2021(2021-06-07) (aged 82) Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| Playing career | |
| 1965–1969 | Southwestern Louisiana |
| Positions | 3,000 meters, mile |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1969–1970 | New Providence (NJ) HS |
| 1971 | Lafayette (LA) HS |
| 1972–2008 | Arkansas |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| NCAA Championships: 40 NCAA Triple Crowns: 5 SWC Championships: 38 SEC Championships: 46 | |
| Awards | |
| 30-time national coach of the year 49-time conference coach of the year 62-time region coach of the year | |
John McDonnell (July 2, 1938 – June 7, 2021) was ahead coach for theUniversity of ArkansasRazorbackstrack team. He began as thecross country and track head coach for the university in 1972 and became head track coach in 1978. McDonnell retired after the 2008NCAA Outdoor Championships. He is considered by many to be the single most successful head coach (any sport) in collegiate athletics history.[1]
In 2005, Coach John McDonnell[2] was inducted to theNational Track & Field Hall of Fame.[3]
On February 27, 2013, a published autobiography of the life and works of John McDonnell was officially declared a co-authorship between John McDonnell andAndrew Maloney.[4] Titled,John McDonnell: The Most Successful Coach in NCAA History,[5] theUniversity of Arkansas Press publication chronicles the timeline of McDonnell's life, starting at the early beginnings of the famed sports figure's childhood growing up in his beloved nativeIreland[6] where he championed record-breaking success as a track star and gained a level of global attention that eventually sparked a life-changing call to move to the United States where he would successfully represent America on the track.[7]
McDonnell earned his bachelor's degree fromSouthwestern Louisiana University (nowLouisiana-Lafayette) in 1969. While competing to become a six-time all-American in track and cross country at USL, he became the 1966–67 AAU 3,000-meter champion, and won the mile at the 1966 British Selection Games.
He coached atNew Providence (N.J.) High School (1969–70) andLafayette (La.) High School (1971) before coming to the University of Arkansas.
McDonnell was hired as the cross country coach in 1972 and added the entire men's track and field program in 1978.
Coach McDonnell led the track team to their first national championship at the 1984 NCAA Indoor Championships while the school was a member of the now-defunct Southwest Conference. Since then, the University of Arkansas has won 40 NCAA championships, including 11 cross country, 19 indoor track and 10 outdoor track. Other schools have won only 24 combined NCAA titles in the three sports during the same period.
McDonnell's 40 national championships (which include 19 in indoor track, 10 in outdoor track and 11 in cross country) are more than any coach in any sport in the history of college athletics.[8] The next highest is 31 byPat Henry, formerLSU and current track coach atTexas A&M University.
McDonnell also won five national triple crowns (in 1984-85, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95 and 1998–99).Texas-El Paso has won three national triple crowns. No other school has ever won one.
In addition, McDonnell's team and individual achievements include:[9]
TheRazorback outdoor track facility on the campus of the University of Arkansas is named in his honor. McDonnell has been inducted as a member of the United States Track Coaches Hall of Fame, the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Southwestern Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Mayo Hall of Fame.
McDonnell was granted United States citizenship in 1969, the same year he graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
After retiring, McDonnell enjoyed spending time on his 2,500-acre (10 km2)cattle ranch inPryor, Oklahoma. He owned over 650 head ofcattle.[citation needed] McDonnell was also involved with several non-profit organizations, including theAmerican Heart Association and the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute and he worked closely with theUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to promoteprostate cancer awareness. He was married to the former Ellen Elias ofBayonne, New Jersey and has two children, Heather and Sean.
McDonnell died in Fayetteville on June 7, 2021.[10][11][12]
