Eddie Donovan

Basketball Coach, Executive

A native of Elizabeth, NJ, Eddie Donovan attended St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY where he lettered in basketball from 1947-49 and forged a lifelong relationship with the game and the school he loved.

A 1950 graduate of the Franciscan school, Donovan was Head Basketball Coach at St. Bonaventure from 1953-61. In that time, he compiled a record of 139-57 (.709 winning percentage), ranking him third in all-time wins and second in all-time winning percentage.

Donovan led his team to four 20-win seasons (1957-60), four National Invitational Tournaments (NIT) (1957-60) and one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament (1961).

Donovan left St. Bonaventure in 1961 to become Head Coach (1961-64) and General Manager (1964-70) of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) New York Knicks. As GM, Donovan brought players like Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley to the Knicks, building the team that was to win NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973.

In 1970, Donovan left to become the general manager of the NBA’s Buffalo Braves (1970-75), where he was named the NBA “Executive of the Year” for the 1973-74 season.

In 1975, he returned to the New York Knicks as general manager (1975-1982) and later vice president/director of player personnel (1982-86).

In 1986, Donovan returned once again to his alma mater, where he was appointed assistant to the president for institutional advancement. He has since devoted himself to the many duties of the position at the Franciscan University.

In 1992, Donovan joined his fellow alumnus and cager Bob Lanier, an inaugural inductee in 1991, as a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.