Career
He served as the head football coach at Austin Peay State University from 1977 to 1978 and at Middle Tennessee State University from 1979 to 1998, compiling a career college football coaching record of 154–94–1. Donnelly was inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame in 1993. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013.
Donnelly currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Backfield in Motion, an organization dedicated to fostering academic and athletic abilities among inner city youth.
Donnelly began his coaching career at his alma mater, Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as the head football coach there from 1974 to 1975, tallying a mark of 21–2.
In 1976 Donnelly joined the football staff at Vanderbilt University, coaching the offensive backfield under head coach, Fred Pancoast.
