St. Joseph's Extends Coach Steve Donahue Through 2031

The Philadelphia university has signed head coach Steve Donahue to a contract extension that runs through the 2030-31 season.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball

St. Joseph's Extends Coach Steve Donahue Through 2031

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St. Joseph's University announced a contract extension for head coach Steve Donahue that keeps him with the program through the 2030-31 season. Donahue took the lead role following the departure of his predecessor, Billy Lange.

Why it matters

The extension provides long-term stability for the Hawks' basketball program as it transitions under new athletic department leadership. The deal comes following a strong finish last season that saw the team remain competitive within the Atlantic 10 conference.

St. Joseph's finished the previous season with an overall record of 24-12, fueled by a streak where the team won 13 of its final 16 regular-season games. Steve Donahue brings prior experience from his nine seasons as the head coach at the University of Pennsylvania.

The players

Steve Donahue

He is the head coach of St. Joseph's basketball who previously served as the head coach of the University of Pennsylvania for nine seasons.

Ash Puri

He is the current athletic director at St. Joseph's University who assumed the position in May 2026.

Billy Lange

He is the former head coach of St. Joseph's who left the university for a position with the New York Knicks.

Jill Bodensteiner

She is the former athletic director at St. Joseph's University who appointed Donahue to the head coaching role.

The details

Steve Donahue was elevated to the head coaching position by former athletic director Jill Bodensteiner before she left the university in February 2026. The program continues to move forward under new athletic director Ash Puri, who assumed the role in May 2026.

February 2026: Jill Bodensteiner departed her position as athletic director.
May 2026: Ash Puri was appointed as the new athletic director.
2025-26 season: Steve Donahue served as head coach.
2030-31 season: The expiration date for the new contract extension.

Season Trajectory

This extension signals that St. Joseph's intends to build upon the momentum generated during the 2025-26 Atlantic 10 men's basketball season. By locking in coaching leadership, the program aims to maintain its competitive standing in the conference after last year's semifinal appearance.

With Donahue signed through 2031, fans can expect long-term continuity in the team's tactical approach and recruiting strategy. The extension guarantees the coaching staff remains in place for upcoming conference cycles, impacting the team's ability to maintain its recent 24-win pace.

The takeaway

The multi-year commitment indicates that the university is satisfied with the team's recent resurgence and conference tournament competitiveness. Long-term coaching security often helps programs build more consistent rosters and stable offensive schemes over multiple recruiting classes.