Terry Donahue Biography

Terry Donahue (born Terrence Michael Donahue) was an American college football coach for the UCLA Bruins. He also served as the general manager for the San Francisco 49ers from 2001-05. After retiring, Donahue worked as a broadcaster for CBS, FOX, and the NFL Network.

Donahue first coached the Bruins as an assistant from 1971 to 1975, then as head coach from 1976 to 1995. He finished with an impressive 151-74-8 record as the head coach at UCLA. During his tenure, the Bruins won or shared five league titles. Donahue took over as head coach at 31 years old, after serving as an assistant coach under Pepper Rodgers and Dick Vermeil. A string of seven consecutive UCLA Bowl victories in the 1980s included the 1983 and ’84 Rose Bowls, the ’85 Fiesta Bowl, the ’86 Rose Bowl, the ’86 Freedom Bowl, the ’87 Aloha Bowl, and the ’89 Cotton Bowl.

Donahue was the first collegiate coach to earn bowl game victories in seven consecutive seasons, from 1983 to 1989. He coached Hall of Famers Troy Aikman, Kenny Easley, and Jonathan Ogden.

Before becoming the general manager for the 49ers, he served as the team’s director of player personnel in 1999-2000. He turned down a chance to coach the Dallas Cowboys, a move that would have reunited him with Aikman, in 1998.

In 2000, Donahue was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Three years earlier, he was selected to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, class of 2001. And he was named by ESPN as one of the 150 Greatest College Coaches of all time.

Terry Donahue Age

Terrence Michael Donahue was born on June 24, 1944, in Los Angeles, California. He died on July 4, 2021, in Newport Beach, California. He was 77.

Terry Donahue Wife

Terry Donahue was married to his wife Andrea Donahue.

Terry Donahue Family

Terry Donahue is survived by his wife Andrea Donahue and three daughters, Nicole, Michele and Jennifer, in addition to three sons-in-law and 10 grandchildren. Donahue grew up as one of five brothers in North Hollywood.

Terry Donahue Daughter

Terry Donahue had four daughters Nicole, Michele and Jennifer.

Terry Donahue Death

Terry Donahue passed away at his home in Newport Beach, California, on July 4, 2021, at the age of 77, following a two-year battle with cancer, UCLA announced. Current UCLA football coach Chip Kelly said in a statement: “He epitomizes everything you strive to be as a coach and as a human being. Since the moment I stepped on campus, he’s been an incredible mentor and one of the most authentic, humble and toughest men I’ve ever met. He loved UCLA with all he had, and I can’t express how important his guidance and friendship has been for me.”

Terry Donahue Cause of Death

Terry Donahue’s cause of death was cancer.

Terry Donahue Type of Cancer

In May 2019, UCLA announced that Terry Donahue underwent surgery for an undisclosed form of cancer and was beginning chemotherapy.