(1942-10-15) October 15, 1942 (age 81) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Playing career
1962–1964
Middle Tennessee
Position(s)
Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1967–1973
Father Ryan HS (TN) (assistant)
1974–1975
Father Ryan HS (TN)
1976
Vanderbilt (offensive backfield)
1977–1978
Austin Peay
1979–1998
Middle Tennessee
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2000–2005
Middle Tennessee
Head coaching record
Overall
154–94–1 (college) 21–2 (high school)
Tournaments
7–7 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
5 OVC (1977, 1985, 1989–1990, 1992)
Awards
4× OVC Coach of the Year (1977, 1983, 1985, 1989)
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2013 (profile)
James F. "Boots" Donnelly (born October 15, 1942) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Austin Peay State University from 1977 to 1978 and at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) 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![1] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013.[2]
^"Blue Raider Hall of Fame". Middle Tennessee State University. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
^Cite error: The named reference Herald was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
James F. "Boots" Donnelly (born October 15, 1942) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Austin Peay...
musicals such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Kinky Boots. Donnelly is from Kilmessan, in County Meath, Ireland, where he was a member...
James Donnelly was hired as MTSU's head coach in 1979. Under his leadership, the MTSU football program compiled a record of 133–80–1. Donnelly is the...
Jim Donnelly (politician) (born 1967), American politician from Maine James C. Donnelly (1881–1952), American football player and coach BootsDonnelly (James...
(1947–1968) Donald E. Fuoss (1969) Bill Peck (1970–1974) Ben Hurt (1975–1978) BootsDonnelly (1979–1998) Andy McCollum (1999–2005) Rick Stockstill (2006–2023) Derek...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
the inaugural playing of the bowl. Middle Tennessee defensive back BootsDonnelly would later serve as head coach for Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee;...
football career at Middle Tennessee State under Hall of Fame head coach BootsDonnelly. He was recruited as a quarterback, but switched to defensive back during...
1948 David B. Aaron Volunteer State Athletic Conference 8–2 2–0 1977 BootsDonnelly Ohio Valley Conference 8–3 6–1 2019 Mark Hudspeth 11–4 7–1 2022 Scotty...
(1947–1968) Donald E. Fuoss (1969) Bill Peck (1970–1974) Ben Hurt (1975–1978) BootsDonnelly (1979–1998) Andy McCollum (1999–2005) Rick Stockstill (2006–2023) Derek...
2014 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate seat from Oregon James F. "Boots" Donnelly, American football player and coach Prince Charles Iworah, NFL defensive...
(1947–1968) Donald E. Fuoss (1969) Bill Peck (1970–1974) Ben Hurt (1975–1978) BootsDonnelly (1979–1998) Andy McCollum (1999–2005) Rick Stockstill (2006–2023) Derek...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
Robert "Bob" Bell and former Middle Tennessee State head football coach BootsDonnelly, although Bell's declining health later caused him to leave the program...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
Tone (1960–1962) Bill Dupes (1963–1972) Jack Bushofsky (1973–1976) BootsDonnelly (1977–1978) Watson Brown (1979–1980) Emory Hale (1981–1987) Paul Brewster...
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