Kevin Donovan

Kevin Donovan enters his seventh season as the Head Coach for the Golden Bears boys’ soccer team.

In 2022, the Golden Bears reached the District Final stage for a fourth consecutive season, setting a new program mark for consecutive seasons reaching that stage of the postseason. The Bears compiled an 8-2-5 regular season mark and went 1-1-3 in the OCC-Central, which was good enough to earn them the #5 overall seed in the Central District tournament. After falling to Hilliard Davidson 1-0 to conclude conference play, the Bears won three straight playoff games without conceding a goal to advance to the District Final, where a second 1-0 loss on the season to Hilliard Davidson ended their postseason run.

Five Golden Bears earned postseason recognition, highlighted by Junior Emmett O’Brien who earned 2nd-Team All-District, and Miles Bonham, who in his Senior year earned 1st-Team All-District, All-State, and All-Region accolades, as well as finishing runner-up for Player of the Year in the Central District.

Donovan has compiled a regular season record of 52-22-18 in his five seasons at Upper Arlington, including a 16-7-7 record in the OCC Central division and an 11-4-2 (two OT/PK losses) mark in the playoffs. Donovan has twice been named the OCC Central Coach of the Year, winning the award in the 2021 and 2018 seasons.

In addition to his role at Upper Arlington, Coach Donovan is currently the Director of Worthington United 94, a youth soccer club in Worthington, OH. He previously was the Director of Coaching for Columbus Crew SC Player Development, the youth arm of MLS franchise Columbus Crew SC. Donovan is also a Level 2 United States Soccer Federation Instructor licensed to teach U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots and “D” License courses.

Before he arrived in Columbus in May of 2017, Donovan spent three years as the Assistant Coach for the Men’s Soccer team at his alma mater, Southwestern University, in Georgetown, TX. During his time at Southwestern, Donovan helped guide the Pirates to three consecutive conference tournament berths, while coaching 11 players named to all-SCAC teams.

Donovan’s coaching career also includes a vast amount of experience at the club level, spanning 20 years, and includes stints with Lonestar SC in Austin, TX, Woodbury Soccer Club (now Salvo SC) in Minnesota, and the Lions Futball Club in San Antonio, TX. His experience at the youth level has also seen him work with the Minnesota ODP program, coach at college ID camps, and train teams from the recreational levels at 5-6 years old to elite youth teams at the high school age.

As a player, Donovan played for 4 years at Southwestern University from 2001-2005 where he was a team captain in his final season. He was named Newcomer of the Year in the Fall of 2001 and shared Southwestern’s Most Outstanding Player Award in 2003 and 2004. The San Antonio, TX native was a two-time First Team All-SCAC selection in 2003 and 2004, earning all-region honors twice (4th and 1st team, respectively).

In 2013, Donovan earned his USSF National “B” License. He also holds his USSF National “C” and “D” Licenses, United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching, GK Level 1 & Level 2, and Futsal Level 1 Diploma. He has completed several youth modules as part of his ongoing coaching education.

Donovan received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Southwestern University in 2005.

He resides in Upper Arlington, OH, with his wife, Michelle, and their four kids, Olivia, Gavin, Morgan, and Graham.