Heidelberg University Athletics

Career Synopsis

• The 2025 season is Donaldson's 22nd season as a member of the football staff at Heidelberg and 10th as head coach
• Promoted to head football coach on December 4, 2015
• Served as defensive coordinator from 2011-15
• Received OAC Assistant Coach of Year award after 2012 campaign
• Earned OAC Coach of the Year honors in 2020
• Career record of 53-31 (.630) overall, 37-30 (.552) OAC entering the 2023 campaign

• Led the Berg to a 5-5 record, 4-5 OAC
• Had two players earn All-Region honors, and coached just the fourth Consensus All-American in program history (DB Jo Norris III)
• Had six players earn All-OAC honors and one OAC Positional Player of the Year (DB Jo Norris III)
• Landed a program record 22 players on the Academic All-OAC Honor Roll

• Led the Berg to a 6-4 record, 5-4 OAC
• Had 11 All-OAC honorees
• Coached four All-Region selections, and one All-American selection
• Saw 11 players earn Academic All-OAC Honors

• Guided The Berg to a 7-3 record, 6-3 OAC
• Tied program record with 16 All-OAC honorees, including two OAC Positional Players of the Year (OL Wally Kalinowski and DL Zach Blackiston)
• Had nine played pick up all-region honors and five receive All-America honors

• Led the Berg to a 8-2 record, 7-2 OAC 
• Guided a program record 16 All-OAC selections
• Coached six All-Region selections, including All-American Griffin Pendry 
• Assisted 11 All-OAC student-athletes

2020

• Led Heidelberg to a 4-1 OAC record in the shortened season, including a berth in the OAC championship game
• Coached 14 All-OAC selections
• Guided 16 academic All-OAC student-athletes, including Nick Cofer who earned academic all-district honors

2019

• Guided the Berg to a 6-4 (5-4 OAC) record
• Under his leadership, saw Offensive Coordinator Jason Lewis earn OAC Assistant Coach of the Year
• Mentored Tramon Wiley and Brad Wienhold to All-American and All-Region honors
• Oversaw the performance of 11 All-OAC selections
• Helped seven receive Academic All-OAC honors and Nick Cofer earn CoSIDA Academic All-District 

2018

• Coached the Student Princes to a 5-5 (4-5 OAC) record
• Mentored the efforts of All-American punter Austin Baker
• Guided Austin Baker and Zach Blackiston to All-Region honors
• Under his leadership, seven were named All-OAC, and 11 selected as Academic All-OAC

2017

• Coached the Berg to a 7-3 (6-3 OAC) record
• Mentored 12 All-OAC and five All-Region honorees
• Guided Brock Riggs, Austin Baker, Cameron Vocke, and Austin Crow to All-American honors
• Led Academic All-American Tyler Hunter and Piesman Trophy winner Brock Riggs

2016

• Coached Heidelberg to a 6-4 (6-3 OAC) record in his first season as head coach
• Led the Student Princes to a 45-14 win over Ohio Northern in its first ever night game on campus
• Mentored All-Americans Demetrius Magee and Austin Crow
• Guided four all-region selections and 12 All-OAC honorees
• Coached CoSIDA Academic All-District selection Tyler Hunter

2015

• Served as defensive coordinator as the Student Princes went 5-5
• Coached four All-OAC players
• Berg defense ranked 16^th in nation in interceptions with 19

2014

• Served as defensive coordinator as the Student Princes went 8-2
• Coached four All-OAC players
• Berg defense ranked 3rd in OAC in points allowed per game

2013

• Oversaw the defense for the 8-2 Student Princes
• Defensive unit ranked 4th in OAC in points per game
• Mentored four players to All-OAC performances, including All-American and OAC Paul Hoernemann Award winner Ben Poirier

2012

• Won OAC Assistant Coach of the Year in second season as defensive coordinator
• Stout defense helped vault Heidelberg to 9-2 record and first trip to NCAA playoffs
• Allowed just 16.9 points per game, finished third in OAC and top 20 nationally
• Coached linebacker Craig Sykes -- a Gagliardi Trophy finalist, D3football.com All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American
• Saw eight defensive players earn All-OAC honors
• Unit recorded two shutouts

2011

• Promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the season
• Under his direction, defense moved from 10th to 4th in the conference in points per game, and from 9th to 6th in yards per game

2007-2010

• Worked as a full-time defensive assistant coach for Heidelberg
• Helped rebuild the defense, which went  from the bottom of the OAC to the top half

2004-2006

• Served as a graduate assistant at Heidelberg

Collegiate Experience

• 2004 graduate of SUNY Brockport
• As an outside linebacker, led the Eagles to the NCAA Division III playoffs three times

Personal

• Native of the Buffalo, NY, area
• Resides in Tiffin with his wife, Kelly, and children, Connor and Emma