Chad O’Donnell was officially named UAlbany men’s basketball associate head coach on Monday, August 27, 2012.
O’Donnell has been with the program for the past 11 years as an assistant coach. He has seen the program put together four 20-win campaigns and reached the NCAA tournament five times. O’Donnell was hired as an assistant on July 6, 2004, and is currently the longest-serving active assistant coach in the America East.
O’Donnell has recruited many key players during his time at UAlbany, including 2012 America East Tournament Most Outstanding Performer Mike Black. Black totaled 1,542 points in his career and ranks fifth on UAlbany’s all-time career scoring list. He also brought in Division I career blocks leader John Puk, career appearances leader Blake Metcalf, as well as decorated athletic and academic guard Logan Aronhalt. O’Donnell is responsible for the recruiting in the Midwest and has made major inroads in the states of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana during his time at UAlbany.
O’Donnell, who has worked on the collegiate level since 1993, assisted College of Charleston coach Tom Herrion as director of basketball operations in 2003-04. He was responsible for academic monitoring, directing conditioning and weightlifting, managing recruiting efforts and organizing summer camps. The Cougars went 20-9.
Prior to Charleston, O’Donnell served in the same capacity for one season at Robert Morris University after spending two years in the private sector. He was also an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire in 1999-2000, and worked for a three-year period at the College of the Holy Cross. He directed all national recruiting efforts for the Patriot League program and coached the junior varsity squad.
O’Donnell began his college coaching career as an assistant at Worcester State College in Massachusetts. From 1993-95, he handled the Division III program’s recruiting, scouting and practice preparation, plus was the junior varsity head coach. He went to work at Bryant College in Rhode Island the following year.
A native of Mendon, Mass., O’Donnell received his B.S. in physical education from Springfield College in 1994. He has authored several articles in coaching magazines. He and his wife, the former Anna Tamborra, have two boys Declan and Brayden, and a daughter Madeline. O’Donnell resides in Troy, NY.
