General | 1/27/2023 9:41:47 AM
Janet Donovan has a rich history with the Empire 8, most recently having completed her sixth season as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Hartwick College in the fall of 2022 after previously serving as head coach with former conference member Ithaca College from 1992-2016.
While at Hartwick, she has helped lead the Hawks to a 38-9 mark over the last two years, including a trip to the E8 Championship last fall. Donovan was a member of the Hartwick staff that was named the 2022 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year.
In her 24 years at Ithaca, the program amassed nearly 700 wins, which is 17tth among all Division III coaches. She coached the program to back-to-back Final Four appearances including hosting rights at the 1994 NCAA Championships. Donovan and the Bombers made nine consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1993-2001.
Donovan led the Bombers to seven Empire 8 Conference Championships. She was also a two-time E8 Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2010. In addition, Donovan was a two-time AVCA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year (1993,1994), an AVCA New York Regional Coach of the Year, Empire Athletic Association Coach of the Year, and the 1994 Ithaca Journal Female Coach of the Year. She was the 1999 AVCA New York Regional Coach of the Year, the 2000 and 2007 New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year and the 2004 and 2010 Empire 8 Coach of the Year.
Her student-athletes have collected many accolades under her direction, which includes 26 AVCA All-Americans. She has coached 22 Academic All-Americans, three AVCA National Players of the Week and three First Team ASICS All-Americans.
Janet Donovan - Empire 8 Pioneer
Year at Current Institution/Total in College Athletics: Sixth season at Hartwick/32nd year in college athletics
College Attended/Class Year: Bachelor's - SUNY Cortland, Bachelor's Degree, 1987/Master's Degree, 1993
Playing Career (if any, collegiately or professionally): SUNY Cortland Volleyball (1984-87), Basketball (1984-85) & Softball (1985)
Favorite Professional Athlete/Pro Team: Lang Ping (Chinese National Team member and USA National Volleyball Team Coach)/Buffalo Bills
Favorite Movies: Miracle and Leap
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate Cookie Dough
What Do You Enjoy Doing When Away From College Athletics? Golfing
Favorite or Dream Vacation Spot: Florida Beaches and Florida Golf Courses
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time as a Player in College (if applicable): Hosting and winning the SUNYAC Championship my final season with Cortland, with my best friends. We won league championships in all four yeats, but the last one was my favorite.
Favorite Athletic Memory as a Coach/Administrator? There have been so many. As a Head Coach, it was beating Stony Brook in the 1994 NCAA Quarterfinals to and host the National Semifinals and Championship. As an Assistant Coach, was witnessing sophomore setter Braelyn Hornick receive National Division III Player of the Week honors during the 2022 season.
Who Was Your Greatest Mentor(s) and Why: Dennis Fries, my former middle school Physical Education teacher and Coach. He knew I really enjoyed sports, and helped me get involved. I was in seventh grade (1978) when my school first started middle school sports for girls. Mr. Fries coached multiple girls teams. He continued to be a great mentor to me through High School and College, and was my inspiration to be a teacher and coach.
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator: As a coach, I get to be a part of these young women’s lives at an important time in their transition to adulthood. I get to build positive and supportive relationships with my current/former athletes and their families through coaching volleyball. I enjoy the relationships I’ve formed with our Hartwick athletic staff, community, and with Head Coach Jim Clar.
What Have You Learned About Yourself as a Leader and In Your Role: I learned that I lead best when leading with love and caring. I really enjoy being an Assistant Coach, and all that it entails, more than I thought I would.
Recent Community Service Projects Your Teams or Departments Have Worked On: Hosted a match and collected money for Breast Cancer research.
How Did Title IX Play a Role For You as a Student-Athlete? It allowed me to compete in competitive sports in High School and College.
How Has Title IX Impacted You After Your Collegiate Career? I have been able to have a long and successful career as a college coach coaching women because of Title IX. Also, my daughter is now on a full athletic scholarship.
What Do You Think Is the Greatest Impact of Title IX/How Has it Changed Your Life? I think the greatest impact of Title IX is that it enabled females the same opportunities to participate in sports as males have. It has changed my life because Title IX was enforced when I entered middle school, and therefore I got to play and compete. If I had been born 10+ years earlier, I would have not had the opportunity to play Interscholastic sports, may not have gone into athletics, and college coaching.
How Has Title IX Changed the Collegiate Sports World? When Title IX was enforced, schools had to provide funding to add women’s sports/teams/facilities/coaches/staff/etc. It is safe to assume that the number of collegiate women’s teams, facilities, coaches, and support staff has increased significantly. There are more opportunities for female athletes to play, and more job opportunities at the collegiate level to run and support more athletic programs.
What Can Be Done to Continue the Growth of Women’s Sports? Continue to demand equal promotion, marketing, and media coverage. Make sure women’s program budgets, staffing, and facilities are treated the same as the men’s teams. Fix the inequities that still exist. Hire more women as head coaches in women's sports, and in men’s sports.
Advice for Aspiring Student-Athletes (Youth/High School and Incoming Collegians): It goes by fast, so play to win in the classroom and on the court. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or ask for help. Build positive relationships with your teammates, coaches and professors. Call your parents at least once a week, they will miss you more than you know.
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes: Take all you’ve learned about being a great student, athlete/teammate and bring it into your career. You already know how to work well with others, and have plenty of experience working toward a common goal, and under stress. Continue to be coachable.
The Empire 8 Pioneers series celebrates 50 years of Title IX and highlights the growth of women's sports, while featuring a standout women's coach of administrator from each of the league's 10 institutions.
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The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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