A couple months after exiting Penn after a decade-long stint, Steve Donahue agreed to become an assistant coach at Saint Joseph’s. Instantaneously, one aspect of his work life got better: The commute.
“It got 20 minutes shorter and I probably saved about $2,000 a year on maintenance because I don’t have to go 76, the Schuylkill [Expressway],” Donahue said. “I’m not hitting potholes. It’s a scenic, nine-mile ride.”
There was one unexpected curve on Donahue’s path. Billy Lange, who was set to start his seventh year with the Hawks, resigned Sept. 10 to take a job with the New York Knicks. Saint Joseph’s elevated Donahue to replace him.
It was Lange, who Donahue described as a close friend for 30 years, who convinced him to make the move to one of his old Big Five rivals.
“He was the first to call me and really ask me if I would consider coming there as an assistant,” Donahue said. “I had other things I was considering. I wasn’t sure if I was going to pursue much, but I looked at a lot of things.
At the end of the day, I thought it was a great opportunity to go with a coach I really respect and trust and somebody I can learn from but I feel I could have an impact on the program with high-level players in a great league and I don’t have to move my family.”
In many ways, Hawk Hill felt like home to Donahue even though he’d never worked there. His sister was a university vice president. Four of his siblings attended Saint Joseph’s, and his son is a graduate.
And he was already eager to see how a team that lost three double-digit scorers but still brought back four of its top seven scorers would fare. Then came Lange’s departure, though Donahue said things haven’t changed much from the summer.
“I understand what the mission of the university is about,” Donahue said. “I know how important basketball is to the university. I feel it’s a really good fit, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to coach a game at St. Joe’s.”
A look at the Hawks
Coach: Steve Donahue, first season at Saint Joseph’s, 331-344 in 24 seasons overall.
Last year: After some noteworthy early-season victories --- including defeats of Villanova and Texas Tech --- and a Big 5 title, Saint Joseph’s split its first 12 Atlantic 10 games before winning seven of its next eight to reach the conference semifinals. The Hawks earned an NIT berth and finished 22-13 overall and 11-7 in the A-10, good for a share of fifth place in the league.
They’ll miss: Three all-conference players from a season ago. Xzayvier Brown (17.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.3 apg) transferred. Fellow first team pick Rasheer Fleming (14.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg) was a second round NBA Draft pick. And second team All-Atlantic 10 selection Erik Reynolds II (16.0 ppg) graduated as the Hawks’ all-time career scoring leader.
Impact returners: Donahue thought junior forward Anthony Finkley (7.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) would be part of the Atlantic 10’s preseason honors.
It might happen after the season. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder is a high-IQ player who could see the ball go through him plenty this season, especially with the Hawks in need of scoring.
“He had a tremendous league season last year,” Donahue said. “I’m kind of disappointed it wasn’t recognized as one of the better players going into this season. He’s been through it and he’s a big part of what St. Joe’s success last year was. To me, he’s taken his game to another level just watching him over the last five months.”
Newcomers of note: Saint Joseph’s faced La Salle a whopping four times, so there is plenty of familiarity with what Deuce Jones brings to Hawk Hill. The guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Explorers on the way to the A-10’s Rookie of the Year award.
“They saw him a lot,” said Donahue, whose Penn team didn’t face La Salle last season. “I got to know him over the summer. Incredibly competitive. I think he’s raised the level of our competitiveness in practice.”
Donahue is also bullish on freshman guard Austin Williford, who had a decent couple weeks to open the summer before rapidly improving. Williford is the son of Georgetown assistant Jason Williford, who was a longtime assistant under Tony Bennett at Virginia and was on staff for the Cavaliers’ 2019 national title run.
Turns out Austin Williford picked up a few things while spending his formative years around a program known for shutting down opponents.
“He’s probably the best defensive freshman guard I’ve ever had as a head coach,” Donahue said.
Reasons to be optimistic: The Hawks return the top shot swatter in the A-10 last season. Justice Ajogbor (4.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 bpg) earned an All-Defensive Team nod last season, and was picked for the league’s preseason all-defensive team this fall.
“I never had a kid who protected the rim like that,” Donahue said. “To have him out there, it just allows you to extend your defense and take some chances, pick up full [court], because you know Justice is back there. “
Ajogbor, Finkley and Dasear Haskins (5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) give the Hawks a frontcourt with plenty of experience within the program. Haskins, an A-10 All-Rookie pick last year, is a good cutter who is deft in transition and can capably guard one through four.
X factor: The Hawks’ top returning scorer is Derek Simpson (8.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.6 apg), who figures to do even more ballhandling as a senior.
“To me, he’ll be the kid who takes the biggest step,” Donahue said. “X was there in the backcourt and so was Erik Reynolds. I think he’s more comfortable now being in the role again. I think you’ll see a much more efficient scorer and shooter from 3. He’s a very good defender and he’s really good in transition.
Circle the date: The Donahue era opens Nov. 3 against Lafayette, and the coach will face his former team when the Hawks head to the Palestra to meet Penn on Nov. 17. During conference play, Saint Joseph’s will have its annual home-and-home against La Salle --- Jan. 31 on the road and March 7 in the regular-season finale at Hagan Arena.
Bottom line: September is an unconventional time for a coaching change, but the Hawks are fortunate to have an in-house replacement with nearly a quarter-century of experience in charge of Division I programs. It might take some time to sort out roles on offense, but there is enough continuity and defensive acumen to prevent the Hawks from tumbling in the A-10 standings.
Patrick Stevens is a veteran college basketball writer that has worked for The Washington Post, Syracuse Media Group and The Washington Times. He has written selected pieces for the Atlantic 10 since 2013.