College football active wins leader Donley,
University of Saint Francis agree on extension
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The University of Saint Francis has given Head Football Coach Kevin Donley a contract extension extending Donley’s future at USF through 2023.
Donley holds the NAIA record for career wins with 326 wins, is No. 7 on the collegiate coaching list and is the winningest active collegiate coach heading into his 41st season in 2019.
“By signing Coach Donley to a five-year rolling contract, our current recruits understand that they will be playing for the NAIA’s greatest coach for their entire college career,” USF Director of Athletics Mike McCaffrey said.
“I understand some of our competitors may want to suggest that Coach Donley is looking to retire, but we can assure everyone that the fire continues to burn as much as it ever has and Coach D will be here for the foreseeable future,” McCaffrey emphasized.
Donley secured USF’s first NAIA Football Championship Series title with a 38-17 win over previously undefeated Baker University on Dec. 17, 2016. USF went 14-0 in 2017 on its way to back-to-back NAIA Championships and the Cougars took eventual 2018 champ Morningside to overtime in the NAIA Semifinal on Dec. 1 on the Mustangs’ home turf.
Donley has a 212-47 record in 21 seasons at USF including 20 consecutive winning seasons. USF finished 10-3 in 2018, No. 3 in the final NAIA Coaches’ Top 25. It was Donley’s fourth consecutive double figures wins season, his 13th in 21 seasons at USF.
“I am truly grateful to the entire USF community for the opportunity to continue to coach college football, the game that a love” Donley asserted. “We started this program with a mission to develop quality young men into meaningful contributors to our community and to win some games along the way. Winning the national championship back-to-back and bringing it back to Fort Wayne and the surrounding region is a tremendous accomplishment, a testament of our commitment to USF and our community.”
Donley is a back-to-back NAIA Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017, and a 10-time Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Coach of the Year. Donley directed USF to its 13th MSFA MEL championship in 2017. Donley, 67, was inducted into the NAIA Football Hall of Fame in January 2014. With the blessing and support of USF President Sr. Elise Kriss, Donley started the USF Football program in 1997.
Donley also captured the NAIA National Championship title in 1991 as head coach of Georgetown College.
