TEMPE – A Sun Devil legend is coming home: head coach JJ Van Niel has added Arizona State's all-time kills leader Macey (Gardner) Donathan as an assistant coach for Sun Devil Volleyball.
"I'm excited to have Macey and her family join Sun Devil Volleyball," Van Niel said. "As a Gilbert native, former Sun Devil great and all-time kill leader at ASU, Macey brings a passion and vision for growing this program that is unparalleled. Throughout the process, I was continually impressed with her ability to fill all aspects of the coaching role, and she has had enormous success as a recruiter throughout her career. Macey will be an amazing mentor for both Preslie and our student athletes. I am so fortunate to have her here as my partner in building the Sun Devil Volleyball program."
Macey (Gardner) Donathan comes back to Tempe after four seasons on the Arkansas staff with former Sun Devil head coach Jason Watson. A former outside hitter for the Sun Devils, Donathan's name is all across the record book, including holding the record for career kills. She was also an All-American in 2014 and helped ASU to its highest ranking in program history in 2015. Before her time with the Razorbacks, she was an assistant coach at Arizona State for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
"The thoughtfulness and enthusiasm that surrounds this staff and program speak volumes to the hope of the future of ASU Volleyball," Donathan said. "I am honored to be a steward of the vision to create an environment and a culture that our squad, our fans and our alumni can be proud of. It is something I will pursue wholeheartedly. Head Coach JJ VanNiel, Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson and Sr. Associate Athletic Director Graham Rossini, thank you for bringing me and my family home, and thank you for your direction and support of what I'm confident will be an unprecedented era of Sun Devil Volleyball."
During her time in Fayetteville, Donathan helped guide the Razorbacks to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013, not only qualifying for the most recent postseason but advancing to the second round. Arkansas finished ranked No. 25 in the final 2022 AVCA rankings after a second-consecutive 20-win season. In her four years of helping to build the program, she coached three players to a total of seven all-conference honors, including 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year and 2022 AVCA All-America honorable mention Taylor Head.
In her two seasons coaching at Arizona State in 2017 and 2018, she coached two All-Pac-12 outside hitters in Oluoma Okaro and Alyse Ford. She helped ASU to a 14-18, 5-15 Pac-12 record in 2018, the biggest improvement since 2012. After a rebuilding season in 2017, the Sun Devils improved immensely, earning four more wins in the season total and five more in conference play. The Sun Devils were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll at No. 25 on October 8, the first time being ranked since 2015. ASU had three wins against top-15 teams that season, the most in a single year since 2015, Donathan's senior season.
Prior to ASU, she had one season as an assistant coach under Shane Pinder at Liberty University.
Donathan finished her career at Arizona State in 2015 as the Sun Devils' all-time leader in career kills with 1,882, a total that ranks 18th all-time in Pac-12 history. She was a three-time Pac-12 All-Conference selection, one of three ASU volleyball players to do so. As a 2014 AVCA All-America third-team selection, Donathan totaled 594 kills as a junior. Donathan holds Arizona State's freshman season record with 577 kills in 2012, which led the Pac-12 that year. She also spent two seasons on the Sun Devils' beach volleyball team.
In her playing days, Donathan gained experience at the international level. She was selected to play on the Pac-12 volleyball All-Star team in China in 2013. Donathan also participated in winter training with the US National Team that year.
In addition to her time in the collegiate ranks, Donathan has coached volleyball on the club level, which was where her coaching career began. She led Club One for four seasons while spending one season with Club Red. Additionally, Donathan coached the Club One 18's for one season of sand volleyball. Her first gig was as an assistant coach for Club One Volleyball from 2012-15.
A valley native who prepped at Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Donathan graduated from Arizona State in December of 2015, earning a bachelor's degree in business communication. Macey and her husband, Zach, have two sons: Benaiah and Elliot.
"I'm excited to have Macey and her family join Sun Devil Volleyball," Van Niel said. "As a Gilbert native, former Sun Devil great and all-time kill leader at ASU, Macey brings a passion and vision for growing this program that is unparalleled. Throughout the process, I was continually impressed with her ability to fill all aspects of the coaching role, and she has had enormous success as a recruiter throughout her career. Macey will be an amazing mentor for both Preslie and our student athletes. I am so fortunate to have her here as my partner in building the Sun Devil Volleyball program."
Macey (Gardner) Donathan comes back to Tempe after four seasons on the Arkansas staff with former Sun Devil head coach Jason Watson. A former outside hitter for the Sun Devils, Donathan's name is all across the record book, including holding the record for career kills. She was also an All-American in 2014 and helped ASU to its highest ranking in program history in 2015. Before her time with the Razorbacks, she was an assistant coach at Arizona State for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
"The thoughtfulness and enthusiasm that surrounds this staff and program speak volumes to the hope of the future of ASU Volleyball," Donathan said. "I am honored to be a steward of the vision to create an environment and a culture that our squad, our fans and our alumni can be proud of. It is something I will pursue wholeheartedly. Head Coach JJ VanNiel, Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson and Sr. Associate Athletic Director Graham Rossini, thank you for bringing me and my family home, and thank you for your direction and support of what I'm confident will be an unprecedented era of Sun Devil Volleyball."
A Sun Devil legend is coming home?? ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) January 13, 2023
Macey (Gardner) Donathan joins the family as an assistant coach ??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/7WJND78tiP
During her time in Fayetteville, Donathan helped guide the Razorbacks to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013, not only qualifying for the most recent postseason but advancing to the second round. Arkansas finished ranked No. 25 in the final 2022 AVCA rankings after a second-consecutive 20-win season. In her four years of helping to build the program, she coached three players to a total of seven all-conference honors, including 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year and 2022 AVCA All-America honorable mention Taylor Head.
In her two seasons coaching at Arizona State in 2017 and 2018, she coached two All-Pac-12 outside hitters in Oluoma Okaro and Alyse Ford. She helped ASU to a 14-18, 5-15 Pac-12 record in 2018, the biggest improvement since 2012. After a rebuilding season in 2017, the Sun Devils improved immensely, earning four more wins in the season total and five more in conference play. The Sun Devils were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll at No. 25 on October 8, the first time being ranked since 2015. ASU had three wins against top-15 teams that season, the most in a single year since 2015, Donathan's senior season.
Prior to ASU, she had one season as an assistant coach under Shane Pinder at Liberty University.
Donathan finished her career at Arizona State in 2015 as the Sun Devils' all-time leader in career kills with 1,882, a total that ranks 18th all-time in Pac-12 history. She was a three-time Pac-12 All-Conference selection, one of three ASU volleyball players to do so. As a 2014 AVCA All-America third-team selection, Donathan totaled 594 kills as a junior. Donathan holds Arizona State's freshman season record with 577 kills in 2012, which led the Pac-12 that year. She also spent two seasons on the Sun Devils' beach volleyball team.
In her playing days, Donathan gained experience at the international level. She was selected to play on the Pac-12 volleyball All-Star team in China in 2013. Donathan also participated in winter training with the US National Team that year.
In addition to her time in the collegiate ranks, Donathan has coached volleyball on the club level, which was where her coaching career began. She led Club One for four seasons while spending one season with Club Red. Additionally, Donathan coached the Club One 18's for one season of sand volleyball. Her first gig was as an assistant coach for Club One Volleyball from 2012-15.
A valley native who prepped at Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Donathan graduated from Arizona State in December of 2015, earning a bachelor's degree in business communication. Macey and her husband, Zach, have two sons: Benaiah and Elliot.