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Sad news to share from California as legendary UCLA coach Terry Donahue recently died. The Bruins announced the news on Monday.
Donahue retired from coaching back in 1995 but still holds the record for most wins in the history of both UCLA (Donahue led the Bruins to 151 wins) and the Pac-12 conference (Donahue led UCLA to 98 conference wins).
Donahue began his time at UCLA as a walk-on player, and as fate would have it, he appeared on the first UCLA team to win a Rose Bowl. Donahue would later become the first person to experience the Rose Bowl as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach.
During his 20 seasons running the UCLA program, Donahue won the Pac-12 five times (1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1993) and won three Rose Bowls (1983, 1984, 1986). He was also the first coach to ever win seven consecutive bowl games.
Following the end of his coaching career, Donahue was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame back in 2000.
Current UCLA coach Chip Kelly released the following statement following the news of Donahue’s passing:
“There aren’t enough words to properly honor Terry Donahue and what he means to the Bruin family and anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him. He epitomizes everything you strive to be as a coach and as a human being. Since the moment I stepped on campus, he’s been an incredible mentor and one of the most authentic, humble and toughest men I’ve ever met. He loved UCLA with all he had, and I can’t express how important his guidance and friendship has been for me. He is an irreplaceable representation of the BRUIN WAY. We will always love and play for TD. Our deepest condolences to Andrea, the Donahue family and everyone lucky enough to know him.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
