Bob Donewald

Bob Donewald (born May 29, 1942)

Teams coached: Illinois State Redbirds, Western Michigan Broncos
Illinois State record: 207-122 (.629)
Western Michigan record: 152-154 (.497)
Overall record: 359-276 (.565)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1989-2000 Western Michigan
1978-1989 Illinois State
1974-1978 Indiana (asst)

Bob Donewald Facts

  • Bob Donewald, Sr.
  • Born May 29, 1942
  • Hometown: Hanover, Indiana
  • Alma Mater: Hanover College (BA, 1964)
  • Started his coaching career in 1965, spending eight seasons as the head basketball coach at South Bend St. Joseph’s HS (IN)
  • Left the school in 1973 to become an assistant coach on Bob Knight‘s staff at Indiana
  • Instead became the head coach at Illinois State, then a Division I Independent a few years away from joining the Missouri Valley
    • Coached the Redbirds for 11 seasons, going to the postseason 6 times (3 NCAA, 3 NIT) and winning the 1984 MVC title
  • Left ISU for Western Michigan in 1989, coaching the Broncos for the next eleven seasons through his retirement in 2000
    • Won 152 games at WMU, going to the NCAA Tournament and NIT once each
  • In retirement, Donewald and his wife continue to live the Kalamazoo area

Bob Donewald Coaching Tree

  • Bob Donewald, Jr. (Iowa Energy, various pro teams overseas)
  • John Dunne (Marist, Saint Peter’s)
  • Jim Platt (Charleston Southern, Arkansas-Little Rock)