Gil Jackson and Steve Donahue: More than just seven-year assistants

Maybe you wonder who you heard whistling at the hoops players or wonder who in the world would sport a bow tie at a Division I basketball game. Chances are you would probably recognize their faces, having graced the sidelines of the Palestra for seven years. When you think of the Penn men's basketball coaching staff you think Fran Dunphy, but maybe that's because assistant coaches Steve Donahue and Gil Jackson have been out of the limelight when it comes to the hype surrounding the Penn men's basketball team. But the limelight is exactly what they're looking for, as both Jackson and Donahue are simply trying to climb the basketball ladder to a respectable head coaching position -- something former assistant Fran O'Hanlon achieved over a year ago when he inked a contract with Lafayette. But as assistants of the Ivy League's most successful basketball team in the 1990s the tandem has been anything but typical yes-men. Although they "make loads of suggestions and rarely any decisions," the two have a tremendous amount of input of all aspects on the team. From recruiting to scouting opponents to game analysis to motivation to fundraising to game plans, Jackson and Donahue are a part of it all. "We've been together for seven years," Donahue said. "We all know and trust each other and we all have input on what goes on." In general, Donahue keys his coaching on the offense and guards, while Jackson focuses on the big men and the defense. When it comes to recruiting, every coach looks at the regional talent while Jackson heads to the Western summer camps in cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, while Donahue scouts the Eastern leagues. In addition, both Jackson and Donahue agree that they have a role as the "good cop," after tough losses, like Saturday's 61-53 defeat to Cornell. "As an assistant, we are more encouraging -- our job is positive reinforcement and to teach so we don't make the same mistakes," Donahue said. While traveling the necessary stepping stones to achieve a head coaching position, however, Donahue and Jackson have different outlooks on their futures. Donahue began his career coaching a high school junior varsity squad in Springfield, Del., after which he worked as an assistant under O'Hanlon at Monsignor Bonner of the Philadelphia Catholic League. His break into the college scene came thanks to Herb Magee -- the fabled coach of Division III Philadelphia Textile who has amassed over 600 wins. Following a five-year stint as Penn's JV coach and volunteer varsity coach (a position that David Hooks now holds), Donahue took over the slot left open by O'Hanlon's departure. Looking ahead, however, Donahue says he was confident he could have gotten the top job at Division III Ursinus (his alma mater), but says he would rather wait until a chance at the Division I level comes around. Jackson does not see things that way, however. Putting his personal philosophy before money, Jackson has been doing interviews and has gotten favorable feedback from athletic directors of a school which emphasize academics as much as athletics. "I'm not opposed to coaching at a good Division III school," Jackson said. "I'm more interested in the academics and athletics. If I go to a Division III school, I'm going to make it the best I possibly can. I would not use it as a stepping stone." Jackson preceded Donahue as Penn's JV coach, but was hired as a full-time assistant for Dunphy in less than a year. Jackson has been flanking Dunphy ever since. While both coaches are eager to split West Philadelphia in pursuit of their careers, both couldn't be happier with where they are now. "If I was at Penn for another five or seven years I would be happy," Jackson said.