Wednesday, May 18, 2022
by Alaska Athletic Communications

FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Alaska Nanooks athletic department and Director of Athletics Dr. Brock Anundson have announced the hiring of Amy Donovan as the next women's basketball head coach. Donovan is set to become the 16th head coach since 1974.

"We are excited to announce Amy Donovan as the new head coach for Nanook women's basketball." said Anundson, "Amy's experience as a coach and player at all levels has proven she's ready to take the helm of an incredibly talented group of student-athletes. It's clear that her passion to develop the program will start on day one, as our student-athletes are excited to develop under her direction. I'm eager to welcome Amy to the Nanook athletics family."

Donovan comes to Fairbanks after spending the previous four seasons at Division I Weber State, where she was a women's basketball assistant coach. During her time at Weber State, Donovan held major responsibilities in recruiting and initial eligibility, as well as fundraising through community members, event management and other leads. Alongside her fundraising abilities, Donovan was tasked as a liaison with marketing and community service, seeing a ticket sales increase of 24% from 2018 to 2020 and a 521% community service hour increase from 2018 to 2021. 

Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Sponsorships and Fan Engagement Lisa Laiti, the head of the hiring committee, echoed Anundson's excitement. "We are ecstatic to have Amy join the Nanooks women's basketball program as our new head coach," Laiti said. "Her experience from previous coaching positions at all levels and her excitement for the position will be a tremendous asset for Nanooks athletics."

Before Weber State, Donovan served as the head coach at Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Washington. In her one season at Shoreline, Donovan managed academic performance and all operations tasks for the women's basketball team, including scheduling, team travel, budget requirements and fundraising. She also taught four courses in the physical education department. 

From August 2016 to April 2017, Donovan spent the season with Northern Arizona University, serving as the women's basketball assistant coach. In her one year with NAU, she assisted in all facets of the Division I basketball program. She worked with post players, scouted opponents and assisted in recruiting, fundraising and academic management. She coordinated with internal and external stakeholders regarding development and fundraising while also working on the team travel budget.

Donovan also has served as a high school girls' head varsity coach at Holy Names Academy in Seattle from May 2015-August 2016, as an A PLUS Youth Program/Basketball Education in Action mentor from September 2013-May 2015, and as a women's basketball graduate assistant from June 2012-July 2013 while working towards her master's degree at the University of Washington. 

Donovan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 before earning her Master of Education from the University of Washington in 2013. 

"I am so excited for this opportunity with the University of Alaska Fairbanks," said Donovan. "I'd like to thank Chancellor White, Dr. Anundson and the search committee for their confidence in choosing me to lead this program. I am thrilled to be a part of the Fairbanks community. I have already felt an amazing amount of support from the players and athletic department and can't wait to get started!"