ONEONTA, N.Y. – Hartwick Women's Volleyball Head Coach Janet Donovan reached a major career milestone last Friday night, achieving her 750th coaching victory as the Hawks defeated SUNY Geneseo 3-1 in conference play.
Donovan started her journey as a head coach at Keuka College in the fall of 1990, where her guidance led the Wolves to a 24-14 finish.
From there, Donovan expanded her coaching repertoire outside of the collegiate level before returning as head coach for the Ithaca College Bombers from 1992 to 2016. In her 24 years at the helm, the program amassed nearly 700 wins, which ranked 6th in victories among current NCAA Division III head coaches and 15th among all Division III coaches. She would also lead the team to back-to-back Final Four appearances. The 1994 season was Donovan's best, as she brought the team to an incredible 53-4 overall record. After also going undefeated 10-0 in conference play, they lost to eventual DIII National Champion Washington University St. Louis at the 1994 NCAA Championships. In total, Donovan's squads boasted a 17-15 record in NCAA Tournament play, which included nine consecutive trips from 1993-2001.
After posting incredible successes at Ithaca, Donovan would join the staff at Hartwick as an assistant coach for six seasons before being named head coach in 2023. Her best season with the Hawks would be the fall of 2024, where Hartwick not only finished with a 20-3 overall record, but also achieved a #4 ranking in Region 3, the first regional ranking in Hartwick women's volleyball history.
Her current win-loss record with the Hawks stands at 53-23, while her overall win-loss record is a whopping 751-332 for a percentage of .693%. With Donovan now holding 751 wins under her belt over the course of 28 seasons, the Hawks look to the future in Empire 8 Championship Tournament play after having secured the No.2 seed with a recent triumph over SUNY Brockport. The Hawks begin playoffs on Saturday, November 5th, where they will face off against the No.7 Utica University Pioneers at home at 1PM in semifinal action.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
