Donnelly began his coaching career at his alma mater, Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as the head football coach there from 1974 to 1975, tallying a mark of 21–2. His 1974 team went 13–0 and won the Tennessee Class AAA title. In 1976 Donnelly joined the football staff at Vanderbilt University, coaching the offensive backfield under head coach, Fred Pancoast.[3] Donnelly went on to be the head coach at Austin Peay for two seasons, and at MTSU for twenty seasons.
Later lifeedit
After the conclusion of his coaching career, Donnelly served as athletic director at MTSU for several years. In 2006, he became CEO of Backfield in Motion, an organization dedicated to fostering academic and athletic abilities among inner city youth.[2] In October 2015, a statue of Donnelly was unveiled on the MTSU campus.[4]
^ ab"NFF to induct Boots Donnelly into Hall of Fame". The Daily Herald. May 30, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
^"'Boots' To Head Governors". Kentucky New Era. December 14, 1976. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^Organ, Mike (October 3, 2015). "Boots Donnelly statue unveiled at MTSU". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
Further readingedit
Cleary, Rafferty (December 6, 2013). "MTSU's hidden architect: James "Boots" Donnelly". InThe BINN. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via YouTube.
boots, donnelly, james, boots, donnelly, born, october, 1942, former, american, football, player, coach, served, head, football, coach, austin, peay, state, university, from, 1977, 1978, middle, tennessee, state, university, mtsu, from, 1979, 1998, compiling, . James F Boots Donnelly born October 15 1942 is a former American football player and coach He served as the head football coach at Austin Peay State University from 1977 to 1978 and at Middle Tennessee State University MTSU from 1979 to 1998 compiling a career college football coaching record of 154 94 1 Donnelly was inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame in 1993 1 He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013 2 Boots DonnellyBiographical detailsBorn 1942 10 15 October 15 1942 age 81 Nashville Tennessee U S Playing career1962 1964Middle TennesseePosition s Defensive backCoaching career HC unless noted 1967 1973Father Ryan HS TN assistant 1974 1975Father Ryan HS TN 1976Vanderbilt offensive backfield 1977 1978Austin Peay1979 1998Middle TennesseeAdministrative career AD unless noted 2000 2005Middle TennesseeHead coaching recordOverall154 94 1 college 21 2 high school Tournaments7 7 NCAA D I AA playoffs Accomplishments and honorsChampionships5 OVC 1977 1985 1989 1990 1992 Awards4 OVC Coach of the Year 1977 1983 1985 1989 College Football Hall of FameInducted in 2013 profile Contents 1 Playing career 2 Coaching career 3 Later life 4 Head coaching record 4 1 College 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksPlaying career editDonnelly was a defensive back at MTSU his playing career culminated with an MTSU victory in the 1964 Grantland Rice Bowl Coaching career editDonnelly began his coaching career at his alma mater Father Ryan High School in Nashville Tennessee He served as the head football coach there from 1974 to 1975 tallying a mark of 21 2 His 1974 team went 13 0 and won the Tennessee Class AAA title In 1976 Donnelly joined the football staff at Vanderbilt University coaching the offensive backfield under head coach Fred Pancoast 3 Donnelly went on to be the head coach at Austin Peay for two seasons and at MTSU for twenty seasons Later life editAfter the conclusion of his coaching career Donnelly served as athletic director at MTSU for several years In 2006 he became CEO of Backfield in Motion an organization dedicated to fostering academic and athletic abilities among inner city youth 2 In October 2015 a statue of Donnelly was unveiled on the MTSU campus 4 Head coaching record editCollege edit Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl playoffsAustin Peay Governors Ohio Valley Conference 1977 1978 1977 Austin Peay 8 3 6 1 1st1978 Austin Peay 6 4 3 3 4thAustin Peay 14 7 9 4Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Ohio Valley Conference 1979 1998 1979 Middle Tennessee 1 9 1 5 6th1980 Middle Tennessee 2 8 2 5 T 6th1981 Middle Tennessee 6 5 4 4 T 4th1982 Middle Tennessee 8 3 4 3 T 3rd1983 Middle Tennessee 8 2 5 2 T 2nd1984 Middle Tennessee 11 3 5 2 T 2nd L NCAA Division I AA Semifinal1985 Middle Tennessee 11 1 7 0 1st L NCAA Division I AA Quarterfinal1986 Middle Tennessee 6 5 4 3 T 3rd1987 Middle Tennessee 6 5 4 2 3rd1988 Middle Tennessee 7 4 4 2 T 2nd1989 Middle Tennessee 9 4 6 0 1st L NCAA Division I AA Quarterfinal1990 Middle Tennessee 11 2 5 1 T 1st L NCAA Division I AA Quarterfinal1991 Middle Tennessee 9 4 6 1 2nd L NCAA Division I AA Quarterfinal1992 Middle Tennessee 10 3 8 0 1st L NCAA Division I AA Quarterfinal1993 Middle Tennessee 5 6 4 4 T 4th1994 Middle Tennessee 8 3 1 7 1 2nd L NCAA Division I AA First Round1995 Middle Tennessee 7 4 6 2 3rd1996 Middle Tennessee 6 5 4 4 T 4th1997 Middle Tennessee 4 6 2 5 6th1998 Middle Tennessee 5 5 5 2 T 2ndMiddle Tennessee 133 80 1 93 48Total 147 87 1 National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berthReferences edit Blue Raider Hall of Fame Middle Tennessee State University Archived from the original on September 21 2013 Retrieved September 20 2013 a b NFF to induct Boots Donnelly into Hall of Fame The Daily Herald May 30 2013 Retrieved September 20 2013 Boots To Head Governors Kentucky New Era December 14 1976 Retrieved September 19 2013 Organ Mike October 3 2015 Boots Donnelly statue unveiled at MTSU The Tennessean Retrieved February 12 2017 Further reading editCleary Rafferty December 6 2013 MTSU s hidden architect James Boots Donnelly InThe BINN Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 Retrieved February 12 2017 via YouTube External links editBoots Donnelly at the College Football Hall of Fame Boots Donnelly photo playing in the 1964 Grantland Rice Bowl Backfield in Motion homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boots Donnelly amp oldid 1161487949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
