Larry Donovan
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
March 30, 1941 Scottsbluff, Nebraska |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska |
| Playing career | |
| 1960–1962 | Nebraska |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1967–1971 | South Dakota (assistant) |
| 1972–1975 | Washington State (assistant) |
| 1976–1978 | Iowa (assistant) |
| 1979 | Kansas (assistant) |
| 1980–1985 | Montana |
| 1986–1987 | BC Lions (DL/ST) |
| 1987–1989 | BC Lions |
| 1990–1991 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (LB/ST) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall |
25–38–1 (college) 14–12 (CFL) |
|
Statistics | |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
|
1 Big Sky (1982) 1 West Division (1988) | |
Larry Donovan (born March 30, 1941) is a former head football coach for the Montana Grizzlies and BC Lions.
A 1964 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Donovan served as an assistant at South Dakota, Washington State, Iowa, and Kansas before becoming Montana's head coach on December 15, 1979.[1]
In his six seasons as head coach of the Grizzlies, Donovan had a 25–38–1 record and only one winning season.[2] On November 25, 1985, athletic director Harley Lewis announced that the contracts of Donovan and eight of his assistants would not be renewed.[3] Donovan believed that he had been unjustly fired and blamed the antiquated Dornblaser Field for his lack of success in recruiting. His requests for a new stadium resulted in the construction of Washington–Grizzly Stadium, which opened in 1986.[4]
Donovan's next coaching job was as the defensive line coach for the BC Lions. On October 30, 1987, head coach Don Matthews was fired and Donovan was named interim head coach.[5] The Lions went 4–0 after the coaching change and finished the season in first place in the West Division. In his first full season as head coach, the Lions had a 10–8 record and made it to the Grey Cup, losing to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22–21. The Lions struggled in 1989 and Donovan was fired after an 0–4 start.[6]
Donovan was an assistant coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1990 and 1991. He traveled to Japan to coach the Japanese X League Hurricanes sponsored by Hitachi Limited and Renesas Technologies from 1992 until 2007. He was a training camp coach and consultant for the Asahi Beverage Challengers in Osaka, Japan in 2010.
References
- ↑ "Donovan Gets Montana Job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 15, 1979. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Larry Donovan Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Montana coach won't be returning". The Gainesville Sun. November 26, 1985. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Donovan still bitter over firing". The Spokesman-Review. December 1, 1985.
- ↑ "People in Sports". Eugene Register-Guard. October 15, 1987. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Ex-Griz Donovan fired by B.C.". The Spokesman-Review. August 7, 1989. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
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