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West Virginia Wesleyan College Athletics

Gavin Donaldson

Gavin Donaldson

Gavin Donaldson is entering his 31st year on the sidelines for the West Virginia Wesleyan men’s soccer program in 2021. He earned his 350th win at WVWC during the 2020 season (played in spring 2021 due to COVID-19).

Donaldson and his assistants took home the United Soccer Coaches Association National Staff of the Year award in 2020. 

Donaldson has led the Bobcats to five NCAA Tournaments, the most recent being in 2017. During he 2017 season Wesleyan was the first school other than the University of Charleston to capture the Mountain East Conference Championship. Donaldson's Bobcats were the only team to defeat Charleston during the 2017 season who ended up being the eventual national champions. The veteran coach has 12 conference championships in his time with Wesleyan. 

The 2010 season was also a highlight for Donaldson and the Bobcats. The team made to the Elite Eight where they lost to the eventual national champion Northern Kentucky. The team ended the season ranked sixth in NCAA DII, and it was the furthest the school had made it in the DII tournament. 

Donaldson also coached Wesleyan to the 1994 NAIA National Championship in a season where they went 20-3-4 , making it the fifth national championship in ten years for the Bobcats. Donaldson's 1992 team went 21-0-2, losing in penalties in the national semi-finals. 

Donaldson has been named Conference Coach of the Year on seven occasions and was tabbed NAIA and NSCAA National Coach of the Year in 1994.

He has coached seven conference Player of the Year award winners, one conference Freshman of the Year and 85 first-team All-Conference players. During his tenure, Donaldson has also coached 18 players to All-American honors. 

Previous to his time at Wesleyan, Donaldson was a Graduate Assistant for Men's Soccer at NCAA DI powerhouse Indiana University.  

Prior to his time at Indiana, Donaldson began his coaching career at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. During his tenure there from 1984-1988, he compiled a record of 42-42-5 and led them to three NLCAA Tournaments. 

Over the years, Donaldson has been involved with West Virginia ODP, and various West Virginia Clubs; North Central United, West Virginia United, Blue-Grey United, Fairmont Crew, 33FC, and Mid-State. His club teams have won the State Championship and advanced to the National Regional Tournament 12+ times. His 1995 West Virginia United squad lost on penalties in the Regional Championship.

To go along with coaching at youth level, Donaldson has the longest running camp at Wesleyan, the GD Edge Soccer camp in its 26th year. 

Donaldson has served numerous times on the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Committee and was the National Chair from 2002-2004. He was also the NSCAA National Rankings Chairman from 2001-2010.  Donaldson also spent seventeen years at Wesleyan as the NCAA Compliance Coordinator. 

He has compiled a career record of 353-192-56 at WVWC and an overall record of 395-234-61 in 35 seasons.

His 395 victories rank him fourth among active coaches in NCAA DII, and 21st on the all time coaching wins list in DII. 

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