Steve McDonald, the winningest women’s basketball coach in Fairmont State history, has known nothing but success at every stop and at every level in his coaching career. Entering his 19th season at the helm of the Fairmont State program, he has led the Falcons to 16-straight winning seasons and 20-win seasons in nine of the last 16 years. McDonald helped deliver the first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 2005, and then guided FSU back to the tournament three times since 2008. He also directed the team to WVIAC Tournament Championships in 2008, 2010 and 2013.
In his 18 seasons at the head of the FSU bench, McDonald has compiled a record of 354-180, winning nearly 67 percent of the time FSU takes the court. On Dec. 1, 2011, McDonald became the winningest coach in program history (220 victories) following the Falcons’ 86-72 win at Ohio Valley. McDonald tallied his 300th career victory as Fairmont State's head coach back on Nov. 13, 2015 - a 62-61 road win over Shaw to open the 2015-16 season.
McDonald reached another milestone by earning his 350th career victory at Fairmont State with last season's 61-50 win at UVa-Wise (2/8/18).
Of the top-five winningest seasons in Fairmont State women’s basketball history, McDonald has been at the helm for four of those seasons, including a program-best 28 wins in 2005.
His players have earned first team all-conference honors 17 times, second team honors 16 times and All-Freshman recognition nine times. He has coached the only NCAA Division II All-Americans in program history in Jennifer Wilson, Kristen Gattuso, Ashley Reed and Kaitlin Snyder. Gattuso (2005) and Snyder (2012) became just the second and third Fairmont State players to earn WVIAC Player of the Year honors under McDonald’s tutelage.
Freshman Sierra Kotchman also earned MEC Freshman of the Year accolades following the 2017-18 season after setting a program record for points by a freshman with 556 last season.
In addition to directing the success on the court, McDonald has also enhanced the program in different ways. He helped fundraise to renovate the women’s basketball locker room to make it first-class, complete with hand-crafted wooden lockers and flat-screen televisions.
He has also helped celebrate Fairmont State’s tradition in women’s basketball with banners and plaques commemorating some of the great players and teams in school history that adorn the hallway as the players take the floor. In that same vein, he has connected with former players with the annual Alumni Classic, inviting back all those who wore the Maroon and White to come and take to the court once again and be a part of a myriad of activities. McDonald has created a standard in which his players are expected to excel in the classroom and be involved in the community, one that provides players with a truly well-rounded college experience.
Last season, Fairmont State wrapped up the year with a 16-14 overall record, which included the program's third-consecutive appearance in the MEC Tournament semifinals. Kelli Jo Harrison and Kotchman both earned second team All-MEC honors, and Kotchman was named the league's Freshman of the Year.
Two seasons ago, Fairmont State went 17-11 during the regular season and earned the fifth-seed in the Mountain East Conference Tournament in Charleston. FSU picked up quarterfinal and semifinal victories in the MEC Tournament before falling just one win short of the program's first MEC Tournament Championship. FSU was led by three All-MEC performances during the 2016-17 season, including first team selection Amanda Ruffner. Deidra Combs and Mackenzie White each earned second team honors.
McDonald picked up his 300th career victory as the head coach of the Falcons on Nov. 13, 2015 when the Falcons prevailed for a 62-61 season-opening victory over Shaw University. The Falcons ended the 2015-16 season with a 20-11 overall record and had two players earn All-MEC honors (Makenzie White, Amanda Ruffner). FSU made a run to the semifinal round of the MEC Tournament as the league’s five-seed.
Four seasons ago, McDonald led the Falcons to a 22-8 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Mountain East Conference standings. Senior Hailey Garrett earned first team all-conference honors for the third-straight season and also earned first team All-Atlantic Region and Academic All-District honors as a senior. Emily Lohr and current FSU assistant Hallie Gunnoe also earned second team All-MEC honors and Lohr led NCAA Division II in three-point field goal percentage in 2014-15.
In 2013-14, FSU compiled a record of 18-10 in its first season competing in the Mountain East Conference. Two players earned All-MEC honors following the season, including Garrett, who became the 24th player in FSU history to score over 1,000 points in their career.
In 2012-13, FSU won five of its final six games to end the regular season with a 19-9 record and earn the three-seed in the WVIAC Tournament. The Falcons continued to roll into the postseason with an 83-47 victory over Wheeling Jesuit in the first round of the WVIAC Tournament in Fairmont. In the quarterfinal round in Charleston, FSU avenged one of its regular season losses by downing WV Wesleyan, 65-54, to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal round, FSU used a key 20-9 run late in the opening half to take a four-point lead into the locker room against West Liberty. FSU closed out the Hilltoppers late by hitting 11-of-12 free throws and allowing just one WLU field goal down the stretch.
FSU won its fourth WVIAC Tournament Championship in 2013 after using a furious 22-4 run in the second half to erase a 12-point deficit and topple Seton Hill, 65-54. Kaitlin Snyder was named WVIAC Tournament MVP and she was joined on the All-Tournament team by Hailey Garrett and Brianna Welch. The Falcons made their third NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 when they took on Gannon (Pa.) University in the first round of the Atlantic Regional.
Kaitlin Snyder and Garrett were both named first team All-WVIAC honors following the season. Snyder and Garrett were the fifth pair of teammates in school history to both earn first team All-WVIAC honors in the same season. Snyder also earned first team All-Atlantic Region and Academic All-District honors for the second consecutive season.
In 2011-12, Fairmont State posted its 10th-straight winning season as the Falcons went 18-10 overall and 14-8 in the WVIAC. McDonald helped direct Snyder to one of the most decorated seasons in school history as she was named both WVIAC and Atlantic Region Player of the Year, and earned All-America honors from Daktronics (second team) and the WBCA (honorable mention). In addition, Snyder also earned second team Academic All-America honors, the first for the program in NCAA Division II. McDonald’s recruiting class also produced a pair of WVIAC All-Freshman selections in Hailey Garrett and Emily Lohr.
During the 2010-11 season, Snyder directed the Falcon attack and earned first team All-WVIAC honors and second team all-region recognition. Center Rachel Murray re-wrote the school record books for shot blocks, and she, along with teammate Lauren Gilbert, earned All-WVIAC honorable mention honors.
In 2010, the Falcons finished the season in strong fashion winning six of their final eight games, which included an incredible run through the WVIAC Tournament. The Falcons trailed by 18 points in the second half in their first round game against WV State, but stormed back to claim the victory. That propelled FSU to wins over Charleston and Shepherd before the Falcons defeated rival West Liberty, 85-78, in overtime in the finals. The win secured a third NCAA Tournament trip -- all under McDonald -- for the women’s basketball program. Fairmont State finished the season with a 22-10 record.
Ashley Vavrek closed her stellar career with WVIAC Tournament MVP honors, first team All-WVIAC recognition and second team all-region accolades. Vavrek would later be named the Ohio Valley’s Most Outstanding Athlete for her performance for the Falcons in 2010.
In 2007-08, the Falcons wrapped up the regular season with a record of 21-6 before starting the WVIAC Tournament. After a win over Davis & Elkins at home in the tourney, FSU knocked off WV State in Charleston. The Falcons then advanced to the tournament final with a 67-62 win over rival Glenville State before avenging a loss earlier in the season to WV Wesleyan to win the program’s first championship since 1984. The win secured the second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, both of which came under McDonald. FSU finished the season with a mark of 25-7, and the 25 wins were the second-most in a single season at Fairmont State.
McDonald was at the helm for arguably the best season in school history in 2004-05, leading the Falcons to a 28-4 overall record and a conference mark of 17-1. The squad won the WVIAC regular-season Championship for the first time since 1972 and advanced to the NCAA East Region Playoffs for the first time in school history, losing in the semi-finals to Anderson College.
Prior to taking the head coaching position for the women’s program, McDonald spent seven seasons as an assistant for the men’s team helping the squad to five seasons of at least 20 wins and a national ranking in five of those seasons. In 1997-98, Fairmont State made its deepest run in the national tournament since moving to Division II by advancing to the “Elite Eight.”
“Coach Mac” began his coaching career in 1980 at Ganado High School in Texas. He was named Coach of the Year in 1981 when Ganado posted a 27-7 record. He received the same honor in 1984, guiding Strake Jesuit Prep to a 23-7 record and the state finals. His six-year high school record was 109-66.
In 1986-87, Coach McDonald served as a graduate assistant at Sam Houston State University in Texas. The Bearcats finished 16-12 in their first year of Division I competition. He then returned home to his native West Virginia as an assistant coach from 1987-89 at West Virginia Wesleyan College. The Bobcats were 40-17 during those two seasons. In 1989, McDonald was named the head coach at Wesleyan, posting a 55-35 record over the next three seasons. He was named the WVIAC Coach of the Year in 1990-91, leading the Bobcats to a 23-9 record and a West Virginia Conference championship. Before his appointment at Fairmont State, he coached the Basket Flyers of Vienna, Austria. At all levels as a coach, McDonad’s teams have won over 600 games throughout his career.
McDonald is a 1976 graduate of Hampshire High School in Romney, W.Va. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University in 1980, graduating magna cum laude in secondary education. He earned his master’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1989, and he is currently working towards his doctorate in curriculum and instruction at West Virginia University.
McDonald is married to the former Melissa Lazzari of Monongahela, Pa. They are the parents of daughter, Madison, and son, Mason.
Steve McDonald: By The Year
1989-92 (3 seasons): Head Coach,
WV Wesleyan (Men's) 55-35
1993-94: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 10-18
1994-95: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 21-5 (WVIAC Champs / NCAA Regionals)
1995-96: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 24-5 (WVIAC Champs)
1996-97: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 18-12
1997-98: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 27-4 (NCAA “Elite Eight”)
1998-99: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 25-5 (NCAA Regionals)
1999-00: Assistant Coach (Men’s) 25-4 (NCAA Regionals)
2000-01: Head Coach 15-13
2001-02: Head Coach 13-14
2002-03: Head Coach 21-8
2003-04: Head Coach 21-8
2004-05: Head Coach 28-4 (WVIAC Regular Season Champs / NCAA Tournament)
2005-06: Head Coach 21-8
2006-07: Head Coach 19-10
2007-08: Head Coach 25-7 (WVIAC Tournament Champs / NCAA Tournament)
2008-09: Head Coach 18-11
2009-10: Head Coach 22-10 (WVIAC Tournament Champs / NCAA Tournament)
2010-11: Head Coach 15-12
2011-12: Head Coach 18-10
2012-13: Head Coach 23-10 (WVIAC Tournament Champs / NCAA Tournament)
2013-14: Head Coach 18-10
2014-15: Head Coach 22-8
2015-16: Head Coach 20-11
2016-17: Head Coach 19-12
2017-18: Head Coach 16-14
Career Record as Fairmont State Women’s Basketball Head Coach: 354-180 (.663), 18 seasons
Career Record as a Collegiate Head Coach: 409-215 (.655), 21 seasons
NCAA Tournament Appearances As FSU Women’s Basketball Coach: 4
WVIAC Championships (Regular Season & Tournament): 4
