Mike Donato
Mike Donato was a phenomenal high school and college athlete who went on to an illustrious scholastic coaching career.
Donato played football at Sharon High from 1963-65, and was a two-year starter and All-Midwestern Athletic Conference selection at linebacker his senior year.
He played at Thiel College from 1966-69, and was a First Team All-Presidents Athletic Conference linebacker for three seasons (freshman, sophomore and junior). He was also All-District in 1967 and ’68. He was First-Team All-Lutheran All-American in ’67 and ’68 and honorable mention Small College All-American in 1968. He was Pre-Season All-American in 1969, but was injured in the first game of the season.
He went on to play independent semi-pro football with the Shenango Valley Blasters for three years and was an outstanding softball player with numerous teams, including Tennies Tavern, Sharon Eagles, Bialko’s and St. Joe’s. He is a lifelong member of the Buhl Community Recreation Center (former Buhl Club).
Donato had a tremendous career as a football coach. As assistant coach and defensive coordinator of the Sharon High Tigers from 1983-2001, the team won 9 District 10 championships, and made it to 4 Western Regional Finals. The team finished as state runner-up twice in his tenure.
He served as head coach at Kennedy Catholic High from 2003-06, then as assistant coach at Westminster College from 2007 to the present. During his tenure at KC, his teams made the District 10 playoffs twice, winning the D-10 Class A Championship in 2005.