Mickey Donovan

Mickey Donovan
Toronto Argonauts
Donovan with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024
Born:1980 (age 43–44)[1][2][3]
Laconia, New Hampshire, U.S.
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)Special teams coordinator
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight230 lb (100 kg)
CollegeMaine
UniversityConcordia
Career history
As coach
2006New Hampshire Wildcats (Coaching intern)
2007–2011Western Mustangs
(Linebackers coach, Special teams coach, Recruiting coordinator)
2012–2013McGill Redmen
(Defensive coordinator, Assistant head coach)
2014–2017Concordia Stingers
(Head coach)
2018–2021Montreal Alouettes
(Special teams coordinator)
2021Montreal Alouettes
(Linebackers coach)
2022–presentToronto Argonauts
(Special teams coordinator)
As player
2005Hamilton Tiger-Cats*
2006Hamilton Tiger-Cats*
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Awards
Honours2x First Team All-Canadian
(2003, 2004)

Mickey Donovan is a professional Canadian football coach who is currently the special teams coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Argonauts in 2022 and 2024.

College career

[edit]

Donovan played college football for two years for the Maine Black Bears where he had 27 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 10 games played.[4] He then transferred to Concordia University to play for the Stingers from 2002 to 2004.[5] He was named a First Team All-Canadian in 2003 and 2004 and also won the Presidents' Trophy in 2004 as the top defensive player in CIS football.[5]

Professional career

[edit]

After attending a free agent tryout, Donovan signed as a free agent with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 18, 2005, to a two-year plus an option contract.[4] He played in the Touchdown Atlantic preseason game, but was released on June 13, 2005.[6][7] It was announced on February 22, 2006, that he had re-signed with the Tiger-Cats, but he was again released after the second pre-season game on June 3, 2006.[7][8] Donovan had suffered a knee injury in 2006 which had ended his playing career.[9]

Coaching career

[edit]

Donovan began his coaching career as an intern with the New Hampshire Wildcats in 2006.[1] He was then hired by former Tiger-Cats head coach, Greg Marshall, to become the linebackers coach for the Western Mustangs in 2007.[9] Over his four years with the Mustangs, he also coached the special teams units and was the team's recruiting coordinator.[1]

On November 18, 2011, it was announced that Donovan had been hired as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the McGill Redmen.[1] He spent two years with McGill, but the team was unable to qualify for the playoffs during that time.

He returned to his alma mater on February 11, 2014 as he was announced as the new head coach for the Concordia Stingers and was the fifth in the program's history.[9] In his first season, the Stingers finished with a 5–3 record and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.[10] Donovan was subsequently named the RSEQ Coach of the Year.[10] The Stingers qualified for the playoffs in each of the next three seasons, but were defeated in the semi-finals in all four years.[11] After four seasons and a 16–15 regular season record, Donovan resigned as head coach of the Stingers after the 2017 season.[10]

On January 3, 2018, it was announced that Donovan had been hired as the special teams coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes.[3][10] He added the title of linebackers coach for the 2021 season.[12] However, Donovan was not retained following the 2021 season.

It was announced on January 19, 2022, that Donovan had joined the Toronto Argonauts as their special teams coordinator.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Mickey Donovan joins McGill football coaching staff". McGill Athletics. November 18, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Concordia Stingers name former linebacker Mickey Donovan as new head coach". CTV News. February 11, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Alouettes name Jones, Carter, Donovan, Stubler as co-ordinators". Sportsnet. January 3, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Tiger-Cats Sign Two From Free Agent Camp". oursportscentral.com. Hamilton Tiger-Cats. May 18, 2005.
  5. ^ a b "Former football Stingers head coach Mickey Donovan immerses himself in new role as the Montreal Alouettes's special teams coordinator". Concordia University. August 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Tiger-Cats add four more". Canadian Football League. February 22, 2006.
  8. ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Mickey Donovan to lead Stingers football team". The Concordian. February 11, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d "Mickey Donovan makes jump to CFL coaching". Concordia Stingers. January 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Classements depuis 1987" (in French). RSEQ. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "Alouettes announce 2021 coaching staff". Montreal Alouettes. December 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "Argos announce 2022 coaching staff". Toronto Argonauts. January 19, 2022.
[edit]
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