Adam Donnelly, a man most might not know, is a staple in our athletic community. He has spent his life coaching athletes in track and field, basketball, and football. He can also be found around town helping out as a track official.
Back when Donnelly was in high school, he really realized what he wanted to do and that was to coach, predominantly for football, but then things changed. He had been doing track his whole life running back when he was in middle school and picking it back up during his last two years of high school. Donnelly started coaching track and field in 1985 during his senior year of college as a volunteer teaching what he knew, which he said at the time wasn’t a lot.
After coaching other sports off and on, Donnelly made a good resume for himself having coached at Western Hills High School, Frankfort High School, Warren Central High School, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, and St. X High School.
“He brought a tremendous amount of knowledge to our program,” Coach Stewart, the head Varsity Track and Field Coach said, “His knowledge in discus and shot put goes without saying, but he had coached just about every event throughout his career and could offer feedback to athletes and coaches as needed.”
Coach Donnelly first got started at St. X back in 2018 thanks to encouragement from then Head Coaches Tebbe and Medley. Over the years at St. X Coach Donnelly helped the team to place as runners up in state during 2018 and helped win state in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“I’ve always joked especially since I left, that I was the good luck charm,” Donnelly said.
In 1989 Coach Donnelly won his very first ever state championship with his Frankfort girls’ track team after having coached for five years.
Donnelly coached track and field for 19 years at many schools and we appreciate him for that. Now Coach Donnelly works as an official for the KHSAA and is a full time husband, dad, and grandfather. He is a great man, mentor, and an all around amazing person.
