By Doug Harris
Former Dayton basketball coach Don Donoher had a memorable experience as part of the 10^th class of inductees at the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame last weekend — even if he's not sure he deserved it all.

His wife Sonia and their entire family made the trip to Kansas City, including sons Paul and Brian and daughter Maureen, along with their spouses and kids.

He especially loved hobnobbing with the other honorees, which included players John Havlicek, Charlie Scott, Rolando Blackman, Quinn Buckner and Ed Ratleff and coaches Lou Henson and Felton "Zip" Gayles.

Players he coached such as Jim Paxson, Dan Sadlier and Gene Klaus showed up to support him, as did a UD contingent that included recently retired athletic director Tim Wabler.

And all of the inductees were treated like the basketball royalty they are.

"That was some production — a first-class deal," Donoher said.

But there was one aspect of the event the coach probably could have done without. That occurred during a couple of points in the agenda where the spotlight was on him.

Instead of giving speeches, the inductees were brought out two at a time for an interview session with basketball analysts Clark Kellogg and Doug Gottlieb before a large audience.

Donoher was so intent on deflecting credit to his predecessor, Tom Blackburn, and others along the way that Gottleib had to remind him that the Flyers soared to new heights once he took the baton.

Donoher wasn't buying it. He viewed the ceremony as an acknowledgement of Dayton's storied history rather than recognition for him.

"It was a who's who of college basketball there, that's for sure. But when a coach goes in, the program goes in. It's that simple," Donoher said.

"It all goes back to the father of Dayton basketball, Tom Blackburn. He set the table."

The 83-year-old Donoher is the Flyers' all-time winningest coach with 437 victories in his 25-year career. He reached the NCAA tourney finals in 1967 and made the Elite Eight in 1984 — producing two of UD's proudest moments 17 years apart.

Gottlieb also asked about UD's upset of No. 1 Seton Hall in 1953 when Blackburn went with an iron five. The starters — Donoher and UD Hall of Famers Chris Harris and the late John Horan, Jim Paxson and Jack Sallee — never left the floor.
 
As for that line of questioning, Donoher said with a chuckle: "It was embarrassing.  … He asked a lot of questions about that game. I explained how five guys played all the way. But with all of those (Hall of Fame) players there, I wasn't too eager to talk about my playing days."

Paxson, the only player at UD to be named an All-American and academic All-American, has known Donoher all his life.

After playing for him in the late 1970s, followed by an All-Star career in the NBA, Paxson became president of the Cleveland Cavaliers (he drafted LeBron James) and hired Donoher as a scout in a stint that lasted six years.

"When it was first announced that he was going in, I put it on my calendar to make sure I was going to be there," Paxson said. "He's also my Godfather, and him and my dad were best friends and best men in each other's weddings. There's just a long history.

"To be honest, it had more to do with my relationship than him ever coaching me — even though that's the reason he went in."

Paxson was impressed with the star-studded class, but pointed out that Donoher certainly belonged in such esteemed company.

"In today's world, you're not going to be at a university 25 years anymore. And I think his body of work — along with that longevity — and his success during his career is why he was inducted. And it's well deserved," he said.

Donoher had plenty of connections among the honorees. He was an assistant coach on the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal team led by Bobby Knight. Buckner played for Knight at Indiana and spent much time with the staff during the months of preparation.

Scott, a former North Carolina star who was the first African-American player in the ACC, grew up in Harlem with Flyer-to-be Rudy Waterman.

Blackman, who had a long NBA career, shared stories about becoming exasperated over the years while trying to defend the cagey Paxson.

And Henson and Donoher squared off in the 1982 NIT with the Flyers winning at Illinois.

The jam-packed affair left Donoher grateful for his long association with UD.

Asked what he'll take from his career, he said: "Just a fact you can coach at your alma mater for 25 years. It's your home.

"I talked to (former Flyer great) Henry Finkel, and they once tried to get him out to receive an award. He didn't want to go. He said, 'My award is the team picture.' And that's about the way I feel. As much fun as it was coaching, I don't think any of that measures up to wearing the uniform."