PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph’s University is ushering in a new era for its men’s basketball program with the appointment of Steve Donahue as the 16th head coach in the team’s 116-year history. The announcement was made by Jill Bodensteiner, Vice President and Director of Athletics, following the departure of Billy Lange, who is moving into a player development role with the New York Knicks.
Coach Lange’s tenure at Saint Joseph’s was marked by sustained growth and foundational building in people, culture, and facilities. Over six seasons, Lange led the Hawks to back-to-back 20-win seasons—the first since the early 2000s—and secured consecutive Big 5 Classic titles along with two postseason appearances. Under his leadership, several players flourished, including Erik Reynolds II, the team’s all-time leading scorer, and Rasheer Fleming, recently drafted 31st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Other alumni like Jordan Hall, Cameron Brown, and Taylor Funk have also progressed into professional basketball careers.
Bodensteiner credited Lange’s transformative leadership for laying a strong foundation for the program. “Billy and I shared a vision for how to run a program in the new world of college sports. He built that infrastructure from the ground up—people, culture, facilities, student-athlete development, and talent,” she said. “We have all the pieces we need to be successful as Steve Donahue leads us into our next chapter of Hawks basketball.”
Steve Donahue, who joined Saint Joseph’s as associate head coach in May after nine seasons as head coach of the University of Pennsylvania, is well-regarded for his coaching acumen, character, and deep ties to the area. He led Penn to the NCAA tournament in 2018 and was named Ivy League Coach of the Year for the 2017-18 season. Donahue’s prior accomplishments also include a notable turnaround for Cornell basketball, during which the Big Red advanced to the Sweet 16.
A Delaware County native with over three decades of coaching experience—including a tenure at Boston College—it is personal for Donahue to lead the Hawks. “St. Joe’s has always been a big part of my family,” he said, referencing relatives who attended or worked at the university. Reflecting on his fresh start at Saint Joseph’s this past spring, Donahue praised the program’s personnel, culture, athletic talent, and top-tier facilities. “We have everything we need to win,” he added.
The Hawks prepare to open the 2025-26 season with Donahue at the helm, looking to build on recent successes and climb further on the national stage. Saint Joseph’s strong investment in people and resources positions the program for growth as it competes in the fiercely competitive college basketball landscape.
