Last season, Zach Donahue played his final season of collegiate baseball for Marist as a graduate student. Just a year later, Donahue is still in Poughkeepsie, now as an assistant coach and the director of player development.
To those involved, the move came as no surprise. Despite entering last season with just one year left to play, Donahue and Marist head coach Lance Ratchford both knew of the possibility for him to return in a coaching role.
“We had known during that recruiting process that he wanted to get into coaching,” said Ratchford. “It was going to take him two years to finish up that master’s at Marist. It was one of those situations where I was thinking he’ll play the first year, then hopefully he can get into coaching, and we can kind of help him out in that second year.”
“I literally just finished playing and hopped onto the coaching staff,” said Donahue. “These guys were my coaches last year, and I played with like 75% of the guys on the team now.”
Donahue, a South Windsor, Connecticut native, can relate to the players more than most coaches. In addition to playing with many of them, he still takes classes, just like they do.
“It’s funny, I’m still finishing my grad program right now. I still have two courses left to take, and I now see it from the perspective of the players. I often joke around with [assistant coach] Niko [Amory]. I’ll be on my computer, and he’ll say, ‘What are you doing?’ Well, I’m doing homework. So, I can relate [to the players] for sure,” said Donahue.
Though close in age, the roster still respects Donahue, and he knows the balance between fun and work. Since he is friends with and played with a majority of the team, he needs to balance being a serious leader when necessary with having fun and keeping things light.
Ratchford kept his eye on Donahue this past summer, essentially scouting him for the coaching staff. Donahue spent the summer coaching the Brewster Whitecaps—a collegiate summer league team in Massachusetts—and because Ratchford previously coached for the team, he kept tabs on Donahue.
“[Donahue] didn’t really know that I was going back and forth with the manager that I played for in college and who I worked for when I was out there,” Ratchford said. “‘How’s Donnie doing? Does he really like coaching? Is this something he really wants to do?’”
Ratchford knew he saw something in Donahue and was excited to get him on the staff. He showed leadership qualities as a player that made Ratchford confident he would be a positive fit on the staff.
“Donnie was so mature as a player that it was a seamless transition,” said Ratchford. “I used to go to him as a captain a lot for things that we needed to get done within that locker room.”
Donahue’s impact this season has already been immense. Just like last season, the season began with the Red Foxes playing out-of-conference powerhouse teams. They started 0-10 against the likes of Vanderbilt and Purdue, but Donahue’s experience from last season helped the team right the ship when the MAAC season started.
“Donnie experienced what we do and what our model is as far as our scheduling. We’re gonna play really hard teams early,” said Ratchford. “Playing seven out of your first 10 games versus power four teams, you’re gonna take your bumps. I think our guys utilize Donnie’s experience of playing some of these tough teams early last year. If the players are struggling, they can go to him and get his insight and his opinion. He lets them know, ‘Hey man, you’re good. It’s a long season.’”
Some of Donahue’s coaching experience comes from the two seasons he spent at UConn as a player. He never played in a game for the Huskies, but he learned from observing legendary coach Jim Penders.
“Jim Penders is a huge mentor of mine. I have absolutely loved everything that he taught me as a player,” Donahue said. “Being a young coach now, I try to implement some of the things that I learned from him on and off the field: how he carries himself as a coach, as a man and as a professional.”
Despite the sluggish non-conference start, Marist is 13-5 in MAAC play—they won just 14 conference games last season. They have also immensely improved on the offensive side. Last season, Marist ranked ninth in the MAAC in batting average and on-base percentage. This year, they jumped to fourth in both of those categories, in part thanks to Donahue.
“He assists [assistant coach] Ray [Sanchez] with the hitters and with the position players every single day. Even though he’s got infield duties, he also has offensive duties and hitting coach duties where he assists every single day,” said Ratchford.
This season, Donahue and the Red Foxes have their eyes on the championship. This team has loads of untapped potential, and they believe their team is just as good as the next.
“If we can do the little things and get better every day, then I think the sky is the limit,” said Donahue. “Obviously, winning a championship at any level is difficult, but I believe we can do it.”
Edited by Max Rosen and Mike Duda
Graphic by Xavier Angel
Photos from Marist Athletics
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