After more than 600 wins and 25 district championships, Jim Donahue has called an end to his storied 30 year run as the head coach of the Westwood High School girls’ soccer program.
Donahue’s tenure also included nearly a decade of coaching both boys and girls. The soft spoken, affable soccer guru said it was time.
“I started in January 1984, which does not seem as long ago as it sounds. I took over from Bob Knight and it just kind of worked out pretty well,” said Donahue.
His last version of the Lady Warriors finished second in district with a 9-2-1 district mark with a 15-6-1 season record, losing in bi-district playoffs to Austin High in a shootout after playing to a 1-1 tie.
The 2013 season saw Westwood return home for their soccer matches as they played its matches at the Warrior Bowl. All Westwood home matches were played at the newly resurfaced stadium located on the Westwood Campus. The team had played on the grass surface until 2002, then over at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex on Palmer Lane from 2003-2012.
“It was nice being back on campus,[it] provided for lots of student to come directly out to the matches,” Donahue said.
Donahue has been a historically understated coach who was most noted for 30 years of talking about his players and generally downplaying his role in the amazing run that saw six straight state tournament appearances.
“It’s about the players, not me as the coach. You need to remember that I have never kicked in a goal,’” Donahue told the Leader during a mid-season interviewed in his final season.
Donahue notched coaching win number 600 on March 26, 2011, as he achieved a coaching milestone that only one other Texas High School Soccer Coach has achieved. Donahue coached his 500th win March 8, 2005 and never lost his passion for coaching.
“I started helping Sam McCutcheon at Howard Payne University and I will probably do that again this year. It’s a lot of fun but I’m not the head coach there,” Donahue said.
While Donahue reflected on over a quarter century of fun, friends, victories and competition he indicated that there were so many good things he was unable to single out highlights. However, he spoke with pride about a recent event.
“I will be going to the wedding of April Copeland. She played for me several years ago, went off to college and is now a teacher in the Leander school district. Watching her and so many others grow up has been a thrill and a privilege,’ Donahue said.
It was always about his players and they will miss him.
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