Jason Donnelly

Jason Donnelly

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

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Since his arrival as Director of Athletics in 2019, Jason Donnelly has delivered energy, excitement, and a vision for Paladin Athletics, with an emphasis on a first-class student-athlete experience, Furman Family culture, and strategic initiatives designed to engage the upstate community as Greenville's University. Jason was promoted to the position of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics in 2022.

Jason came to Furman from Villanova University, where he most recently served as senior associate athletics director and executive director of athletics development (2015 - 2019). He was responsible for leading the Villanova Athletics Fund, managing fundraising and external support for all 24 varsity sports. During that time, he helped raise more than $120 million for Villanova Athletics, including three consecutive record-breaking fundraising years representing a 330% increase in dollars raised.

Jason joined Villanova in 2005 as assistant men’s basketball coach and director of basketball operations for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and was a key contributor to Villanova’s historic basketball success, including the Wildcats’ NCAA Division I national championship wins in 2016 and 2018. He also served as director of athletics development (2013 - 2015).

He has also been a teacher and basketball coach at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia, as well as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at Muhlenberg College, his alma mater. He also served as director of basketball operations for USA Basketball at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil.

A native of Colonia, New Jersey, Jason graduated from Muhlenberg, where he was a student-athlete and student leader. In addition, he has a Master’s of Public Administration from Villanova. Jason and his wife, Rachel, a native of Bakersville, North Carolina, have three children - Aidan, Raelyn and Allister.

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