Saint Joseph’s Promotes Steve Donahue After Billy Lange Joins New York Knicks

Saint Joseph's University has appointed Steve Donahue as the permanent head coach of its men's basketball team following Billy Lange's departure to join the New York Knicks coaching staff. Donahue, who was hired as an associate coach in May after nine seasons coaching at Penn, brings extensive experience, including Ivy League Coach of the Year honors in 2018 and previous head coaching stints at Cornell and Boston College. Despite being fired from Penn in March, Donahue's promotion is seen as an immediate stabilizing move for Saint Joseph's, a program with recent success including back-to-back 20-win seasons under Lange. Lange leaves with a 173-219 record and no NCAA Tournament appearances during his six seasons, while Donahue inherits a talented and deep roster with a strong culture and facilities. The move also marks a notable coaching shift in the Philadelphia Big 5, where several programs have new head coaches, signaling a period of transition and renewed energy in local college basketball. Donahue's return to the Philadelphia basketball scene is highly anticipated, especially as Saint Joseph's prepares to face Penn in Big 5 competition.