Donnelly moves to college level

GAIL GOLDMUNTZ, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

May 27, 2008 7:08 AM

When Laguna Blanca's 48 seniors graduate on June 11th, one more member of the school's community will be leaving to embark on his own college experience. Longtime varsity head coach Jason Donnelly is leaving his Laguna post at the end of the year to accept an assistant women's coaching job at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.

"Coaching volleyball in college has always been something I wanted to do," said Donnelly. "Laguna has been great for me for the last 11 years, but the timing is right for me to take the next step in my coaching career."

Donnelly has built the Laguna Blanca volleyball program up from the ground in his time at the school. He led the Owls' girls team to the CIF finals five times in the last seven seasons, bringing home the Division 4-A title in 2006, the first CIF championship for Laguna Blanca in any sport. For the past 11 seasons, Donnelly has coached both the boys and girls volleyball programs to considerable success in the Condor League.

Following his success, Donnelly shared the 2006 CIF Division 4-A Coach of the Year Award and was the recipient of the 2007 High School Coach of the Year by the Santa Barbara Athletic Roundtable.

Donnelly's Santa Barbara connections run far deeper than his ties to Laguna. He grew up in Santa Barbara, playing his high school volleyball at San Marcos under coach Jon Lee. He has also played a large role in the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club. Donnelly was one of the creators of the non-travelling, developmental Blenders Program and has coached the 18's team to the Junior Olympics in each of the last two club seasons.

"Making the relationships that will be lifelong with the athletes who graduate and watching these kids grow into the confident young adults that they become is what I will miss the most," said Donnelly.