Ithaca College Athletics

Janet Donovan completed her 24th season at the helm of the Ithaca volleyball program after the 2015 season. Her list of achievements includes a 674-295 record (.695) and 13 trips to the NCAA playoffs during her tenure at Ithaca. She ranks as Ithaca’s winningest volleyball coach. She has an overall coaching record of 698-309 (.693).

Hired in 1992, Donovan posted the highest first-year win total (37) by any Ithaca volleyball coach and led the Bombers to an ECAC championship. The following season saw Ithaca start a nine-year streak of NCAA playoff appearances. In 1994, Donovan led the team to a school-record 53 wins and the program’s first berth in the NCAA semifinals. The Bombers were back in the semifinals the following year and made their ninth straight trip to the NCAA tournament in 2001. After NCAA appearances in 2004 and 2005, Ithaca returned to the NCAA playoffs in 2010 and 2015 – all by way of Empire 8 Conference championships. Donovan has won three ECAC championships in the 2007, 2009 and 2014 seasons. The 2007 season also featured the Bombers winning their second New York State title.

The 2015 season was a special one for Donovan and the Bombers, as they produced a record of 31-5. Ithaca won its first NCAA tournament match since 2005 in a 3-0 victory over Williams at the Postdam Regional hosted by Clarkson. Three Bombers were named AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans (Katie Evans, Kayla Gromen and Joelle Goldstein). Evans was also named AVCA Rookie of the Year in the New York region, as well as Empire 8 Rookie of the Year.

Donovan was named AVCA Region Coach of the Year and Empire Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994. In 1999, she again earned the honor of AVCA Region Coach of the Year. In 1994, she was the Ithaca Journal’s choice as female coach of the year, while most recently earning Empire 8 Coach of the Year in 2010. During her career at Ithaca, 15 players have earned a total of 24 All-America honors. In addition, five Bombers have been named academic All-Americans in that span.

A 1987 graduate of Cortland, Donovan was a letter winner on a team that made NCAA regional appearances from 1985 to 1987. She was also the Red Dragons’ team captain in 1987. After scholastic volleyball coaching stints at Tully High School and Lyons Central High School, Donovan took over as coach at Keuka College in 1990. She led the Warriors to a 24-14 mark and a state tournament berth. As a graduate assistant volleyball coach at Humboldt State University in 1991, Donovan helped the Division II Lumberjacks to a 24-10 record and third place in the Northern California Athletic Conference. The non-scholarship institution ended its season ranked 21st in the nation.

In addition to her volleyball duties, Donovan is an instructor in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. She spent four years as an assistant coach with Ithaca’s women’s lacrosse team and five years as an assistant track & field coach.

12/8/15