Mike Donnelly has been the head coach for the Florida Southern men's basketball program since 2015, leading the Moccasins to five NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of Sunshine State Conference Tournament championships, and five 20-win seasons. During his tenure at Florida Southern, the Mocs have had 18 all-SSC selections, as well as four SSC Players of the Year and four SSC Defensive Players of the Year awards while posting a 187-105 overall record with a 112-62 mark in league play.

Coach Donnelly guided the Moccasins to back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Florida Southern went 1-1 in the 2024-25 season with a regional championship appearance in the 2023-24 season with a 2-1 record that year.Earlier in the 2023-24 season-run, Coach Donnelly's Mocs defeated No. 1 Nova Southeastern 93-82, snapping the Sharks' 62-regular season win streak, 46 overall consecutive wins and 44 straight league wins. It was the last league loss for the Sharks since the 2020 season when Florida Southern won 118-109 in the SSC Championship game. In the win on Jan. 3, 2024, Florida Southern overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to outscore Nova Southeastern 55-33 in the second half to go on for the 11-point win. 

In 2019-20, he was named the South Region Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, as well as the SSC Coach of the Year.

In his time at the helm of the program, the Moccasins have defeated 12 nationally-ranked opponents, including two No. 1 teams, and have ascended as high as No. 4 in the NABC Coaches Poll. In 2022-23, the Mocs hosted the Small College Basketball tournament inside Jenkins Field House where Donnelly guided the Mocs to a 2-0 record with a 96-80 win over Flagler, who was receiving votes in the preseason poll and a 92-90 win over No. 5 West Texas A&M. The squad went on to post a 19-9 overall record and reach the Sunshine State Conference quarterfinals. 

In 2020, the team posted a record of 29-2, and was the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championships tournament. Known for an up-tempo, high-scoring offensive system, Donnelly's Florida Southern squads have ranked among the top 50 nationally in scoring offense four times in his first five seasons. He helped develop Brett Hanson '20, who was named the National Player of the Year by both the NABC and D2ADA, and was a finalist for the Bevo Francis National Small College Player of the Year. Hanson scored 2,238 career points, the third highest total in school history.

His teams at Florida Southern have produced four 1,000 point scorers. Joining Hanson are Jonathan Lawton, Jack Rauch, and E.J. Dambreville.

In addition to his coaching duties at Florida Southern, Donnelly currently serves on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee for the South Region. He is also a member of the national committee for the Bevo Francis Award, presented annually to the best non-Division I player in the nation. Prior to his tenure as the Moccasins' head coach, Donnelly spent 13 seasons as a head coach at the Division II level at Post (2003-10) and Southern Connecticut State (2010-15) where he won both CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference) and NE10 (Northeast 10) Coach of the Year honors.

• NABC South Region Coach of the Year: 2019-20
• Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year: 2023-24; 2019-20
• NABC East Region Coach of the Year: 2013-14
• NE10 Coach of the Year: 2013-14
• CACC Coach of the Year: 2006-07

As a head coach at three institutions, Donnelly has produced some of the top players in the nation at each stop including five all-Americans, three conference Player of the Year honorees, a Defensive Player of the Year award winner, and 32 all-conference selections. He has also coached 13 all-region/all-district honorees and a pair of Region Player of the Year winners.

AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN (2015-present):

• NCAA Tournament Appearances (5): 2024-25, 2023-24, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18
• SSC Tournament Championships (2): 2020, 2019
• National Player of the Year (1): 2019-20 - Brett Hanson
• All-Americans (6): 2024-25 - Jadin Booth (D2CCA); 2023-24 - Luke Anderson (NABC, D2CCA); 2022-23 - Jadin Booth (NABC); 2019-20 - Brett Hanson (NABC, D2Bulletin); 2018-19 - Jonathan Lawton (NABC, D2CCA, DII Bulletin, Basketball Times); 2015-16 - Dylan Travis (DII Bulletin)
• D2CCA South Region Player of the Year (2): 2019-20 - Brett Hanson; 2018-19 - Jonathan Lawton
• D2CCA All-South Region (11): 2024-25 - Jadin Booth, Alex Steen; 2023-24 - Luke Anderson, Alex Steen; 2022-23 - Jadin Booth, E.J. Dambreville; 2019-20 - Brett Hanson, Jalyn Hinton; 2018-19 - Brett Hanson, Jonathan Lawton; 2017-18 - Jonathan Lawton
• NABC All-District (10): 2024-25 - Jadin Booth, Alex Steen; 2023-24 - Luke Anderson, Alex Steen; 2022-23 - Jadin Booth, E.J. Dambreville; 2019-20 - Brett Hanson; 2018-19 - Brett Hanson, Jonathan Lawton; 2017-18 - Jonathan Lawton; 2015-16 - Dylan Travis
• SSC Player of the Year (4): 2023-24 - Luke Anderson; 2020-21 - Jalyn Hinton; 2019-20 - Brett Hanson; 2018-19 - Jonathan Lawton
• SSC Defensive Player of the Year (5): 2024-25 - Alex Steen; 2023-24 - Alex Steen; 2020-21 - Jalyn Hinton; 2019-20 - Jalyn Hinton; 2016-17 - Jarel Spellman
• All-SSC (18): 2024-25 - Alex Steen (1st), Jadin Booth (1st), Peyton Gerald (Def.); 2023-24 - Luke Anderson, Alex Steen; 2022-23 - Jadin Booth, E.J. Dambville; 2021-22 - E.J. Dambreville; 2020-21 - Jalyn Hinton, E.J. Dambreville, Brandon Carroll; 2019-20 - Brett Hanson, Jalyn Hinton; 2018-19 - Brett Hanson, Jonathan Lawton; 2017-18 - Brett Hanson, Jonathan Lawton; 2015-16 - Dylan Travis, Dominique Williams
• SSC All-Newcomer Team (3): 2019-20 - Jalyn Hinton; 2017-18 - Jonathan Lawton; 2016-17 - Jeremiah Davis
• NCAA South Region All-Tournament (2): 2018-19 - Slinky Jones; 2017-18 - Jonathan Lawton
• SSC All-Tournament (9): 2020-21 - E.J. Dambreville, Jalyn Hinton; 2019-20 - Brett Hanson (MVP), Jalyn Hinton, Jack Rauch; 2018-19 - Brett Hanson (MVP), Slinky Jones, Jonathan Lawton; 2017-18 - Jonathan Lawton
• NABC All-Star (2): 2018-19 - Jonathan Lawton; 2015-16 - Dylan Travis
• NABC Team of the Week (1): Feb. 6, 2018
• Hal Smeltzly Award (2): 2019-20/2020-21 - Brett Hanson; 2018-19 - Jonathan Lawton

AT SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE (2010-15):

• NCAA Elite Eight Appearances (1): 2013-14
• NCAA Tournament Appearances (2): 2013-14, 2014-15
• NE10 Tournament Championships (1): 2014
• All-Americans (2): 2014-15 - Tylon Smith; 2013-14 - Greg Langston
• All-Northeast Region (4): 2014-15 - Tylon Smith; 2013-14 - Greg Langston, Tylon Smith; 2012-13 - Trevon Hamlet
• NE10 Player of the Year (1): 2014 - Greg Langston
• All-NE10 (8): 2014-15 -Luke Huston, Michael Mallory; 2013-14 - Greg Langston; 2012-13 - Trevon Hamlet, Greg Langston; 2011-12; Trevon Hamlet, Greg Langston; 2010-11; Trevon Hamlet
• NE10 All-Rookie Team (1): 2011-12 - Tylon Smith
• NE 10 Rookie of the Year (1): 2013-14 - Michael Mallory

AT POST (2003-10):

• All-Americans (1): 2003-04 - Ron Christy
• All-Northeast Region (1): 2003-04 - Ron Christy
• CACC Coach of the Year (1): 2006-07 - Mike Donnelly
• All-CACC (13): 2009-10 - Trevon Hamlet, Jon Lucky; 2008-08: AJ Reitter, Brandon Romain, Cecil Stinson; 2007-08: Peter Lawal, AJ Reitter, Arthur Robertson; 2006-07: Peter Lawal, AJ Reitter, Arthur Robertson; 2004-06 - Justin Skipwith; 2003-04 - Ron Christy

In addition to his team's successes on the court, Donnelly's squads have flourished in the classroom by winning multiple CoSIDA all-America and all-district honors, as well as a bevy of other national, regional, and conference academic achievement awards.

AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN (2015-present):

• CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (3): 2024-25 - Alex Steen; 2023-24 - Alex Steen; 2015-16 - Dylan Travis
• CoSIDA Academic All-District (6): 2024-25 - Alex Steen; 2023-24 - Alex Steen; 2021-22 - Jack Casale; 2019-20 - Jack Rauch; 2016-17 - Michael Volovic; 2015-16 - Dylan Travis
• NABC Honors Court (39): 2024-25 - Dominick Denny, Jadin Booth, Joe Moon IV, Kristians Feierbergs, Alex Steen, Amare Miller, Donovan Smith, Riley Buccino; 2023-24 - Akol Arop, Jadin Booth, Noah Louis, Conor O'Connell; 2022-23 - E.J. Dambreville, Jadin Booth, Farris Kabalaoui, Noah Louis, Tray Alexander; 2021-22 - Jack Casale, Jacob Schner, Pierce Kiesler, Farris Kabalaoui; 2020-21 - Jalyn Hinton, Pierce Kiesler, Andrew Whisenant; 2019-20 - Brandon Carroll, Jalyn Hinton, Jack Rauch, Jacob Schner; 2018-19 - Brett Hanson, Jack Rauch; 2017-18 - Luke St. Lifer, Tyler Ross; 2016-17- Luke St. Lifer, Tyler Ross, Michael Volovic; 2015-16 - Alex McLanahan; Dylan Travis; Stephen Turner; Luke St. Lifer
• D2ADA Academic Achievement Award (25): 2024-25 - Jadin Booth, Riley Buccino, Dominick Denny, Kristians Feierbergs, Luke Reilly, Donovan Smith, Alex Steen; 2023-24 - Riley Buccino, Noah Louis, Donovan Smith, Alex Steen; 2022-23 - Farris Kabaloui, Noah Louis, E.J. Dambreville; 2021-22 - Farris Kabalaoui, Tarik Mckelphin; 2019-20 - Brandon Carroll, Jack Rauch; 2018-19 - Jack Rauch; 2017-18 - Jack Rauch; 2016-17 - Michael Volovic; 2015-16 - Alex McLanahan, Stephen Turner, Dylan Travis, Michael Volovic
• NABC Team Academic Excellence Award (7): 2024-25, 2023-24; 2022-23; 2020-21; 2019-20; 2016-17, 2015-16
• SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll (84): 2024-25 - Erickson Bans, Jadin Booth, Riley Buccino, Dominick Denny, Kristians Feierbergs, Peyton Gerald, Trey Jones, Amare Miller, Joe Moon IV, Ameer Ramadan, Luke Reilly, Donovan Smith, Alex Steen, Raphael Tawil; 2023-24 - Akol Arop, Jadin Booth, Riley Buccino, Dominick Denny, Noah Louis, Conor O'Connell, Luke Reilly, Donovan Smith, Alex Steen, Sam Walters; 2022-23 - Riley Buccino, Alex Steen, Farris Kabalaoui, Noah Louis, Dominick Denny, Tray Alexander, Babatunde Ajike, Olafur Gunnlaugsson; 2021-22 - Wes Bongiorni, Jack Casale, Farris Kabalaoui, Pierce Kiesler, Tarik Mckelphin, Xavier Rhodes, Jacob Schner;  2020-21 - Wes Bongiorni, Brandon Carroll, Trey Jones, Farris Kabalaoui, Jacob Schner, DeAndre Campbell, Andrew Whisenant; 2019-20 - Josh Brown, DeAndre Campbell, Brandon Carroll, Kaiyem Cleary, Jalyn Hinton, Farris Kabalaoui, John Kiesler, Jacob Schner; 2018-19 - E.J. Dambreville, Brett Hanson, Pierce Kiesler, Jack Rauch; 2017-18 - Josh Brown, Brett Hanson, Jack Rauch, Tyler Ross, Jacob Schner, Luke St. Lifer; 2016-17 - Josh Brown, Brett Hanson, Kyle McWilliams, Jack Rauch, Tyler Ross, Jacob Schner, Jarel Spellman, Luke St. Lifer, Michael Volovic, Myles Wilkins: 2015-16 - Melique Hill, Alex McClanahan, Trey Moore, Joey Morlan, Tyler Ross, Dylan Travis, Stephen Turner, Michal Volovic, Myles Wilkins, Dominique Williams
• FSC Honor Walk (1): 2015-16 - Alex McLanahan
• Pat McFadden Award (1): 2015-16 - Dylan Travis

AT SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE (2010-15):

• CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (2): 2014-15 - Tylon Smith; 2013-14 - Tylon Smith
• CoSIDA Academic All-District (2): 2014-15 - Tylon Smith; 2013-14 - Tylon Smith
• NABC Honors Court (5): 2014-15 - Luke Houston, Tylon Smith, Lucas Van Nes; 2013-14 - Luke Houston, Tylon Smith
• D2ADA Academic Achievement Award (6): 2014-15 - Luke Houston, Tylon Smith; 2013-14 - Luke Houston, Tylon Smith; 2012-13 - Luke Houston, Tylon Smith
• NABC Team Academic Excellence Award (1): 2014-15
• NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll (30): 2014-15 - Michael Bozzuto, Austin Carter, Luke Houston, Michael Mallory, Jack McCarthy, Dominic Migliaro, Jonathan Paul, Tylon Smith, Lucas Van Nes, Desmond Williams, Stefon Williams; 2013-14 - Austin Carter, Jose Cruz, Luke Houston, Michael Mallory, Jonathan Paul, Tylon Smith; 2012-13 - Jose Cruz, Luke Houston, Tylon Smith; 2011-12 - Trevon Hamlet, Luke Houston, Tylon Smith; 2010-11; Lance Long, Kieran Ramsey, Drew Zito

AT POST (2003-10):

•  90+ % Graduation Rate: At Post, nearly every student-athlete who exhausted their eligibility under Donnelly (four-year or transfer) graduated with their degree

• Member: NCAA Division II Regional Advisory Committee (South Region)
• Member: Bevo Francis Award Committee

Prior to taking over as head coach at Post, Donnelly served as the head boys’ basketball coach at Notre Dame of Fairfield (Conn.) and Brookfield (Conn.) High Schools. Prior to that, he served for two seasons as an assistant coach at Post.

As a student-athlete, Donnelly began his collegiate career at Central Connecticut State University, where he was a starting guard for the Blue Devils from 1993-95. He served as team captain as a sophomore and was also named All-East Coast honorable mention by Eastern Basketball in 1994.

Donnelly transferred to Sacred Heart University following his sophomore season and was a starting guard for head coach Dave Bike for two years. He was selected to the Honors Court by the National Association of Basketball Coaches for his academic prowess in the classroom.

Donnelly was a four-year member of the boys’ basketball team at St. Joseph’s High School in Trumbull, Conn. for legendary head coach Vito Montelli. He helped St. Joe’s win back-to-back state championships and served as team captain as a senior. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Sacred Heart.

Donnelly and his wife, Jill, have two daughters, Kara and Payten.