Steve McDonald

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Entering his 12th season, Steve McDonald has known nothing but success as head coach at Fairmont State. He led the Falcons to nine-straight winning seasons and 20-win seasons in six of the last nine years. McDonald helped deliver the first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 2005, and then guided FSU back to the tournament again in 2008 and 2010. He also directed the team to WVIAC Tournament championships in 2008 and 2010.

In his 11 seasons on the sideline, McDonald has compiled a record of 218-105, winning nearly 70 percent of the team the Falcons take the court. His 218 wins are the second-most in school history, and he is poised to be the school’s all-time winningest coach in the upcoming season. 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-WVIAC honors 11 times, second team honors seven times and All-Freshman recognition six times. He also coached the only NCAA Division II All-Americans in the program’s history, 2005 WVIAC Player of the Year and Fairmont State’s all-time leading scorer, Kristen Gattuso, and Fairmont native Ashley Reed in 2006.

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 a flat-panel television. 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 Alumni Classic played in January, 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 posted its ninth-straight winning season. Kaitlin Snyder was one of the most explosive scorers in the country and earned first team All-WVIAC honors and second team all-region honors. Rachel Murray re-wrote the school record books for shot blocks, and she, along with teammate Lauren Gilbert, earned All-WVIAC honorable mention honors.

Two seasons ago, the Falcons finished the season in strong fashion winning six of its 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.

Three seasons ago, McDonald led the Falcons to a record of 18-11 and the second round of the WVIAC tournament. Vavrek was a first team All-WVIAC selection and Gabby Gattuso earned second team recognition.

In the 2007-08 season, 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 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 team 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.

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.