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Gates signs free-agent deal with Orioles

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas infielder Jared Gates signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, making him the 10th Razorback to sign a pro contract since the 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft in June.

Gates is the first non-drafted Razorback to sign a pro contract this summer and second to join the Orioles organization. Right-hander Blaine Knight was picked in the third round by Baltimore in the draft and signed a deal last week.

Hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Gates became a postseason hero for the Razorbacks over the last two years, earning the nickname “Mr. June” after coming up with clutch hits throughout the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

This year, in just the postseason alone, Gates hit .308, the second-best average on the team, with three home runs and six RBIs.

Over his 16 games in the NCAA Tournament, Gates was one of the best, hitting .291 combined with 16 runs scored and a .365 on-base percentage.

For much of his 2018 season, Gates platooned at first base before becoming the everyday starter for the remaining 15 games. He ended up hitting .241 over 46 games with six long balls and 23 RBIs.

In his two seasons at Arkansas, Gates was a .243 hitter with 62 hits, nine doubles, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs and 28 walks.

Gates was endeared by the Razorback faithful in 2017 when he hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the NCAA Regional final against Missouri State, a game that was played well into the morning hours the next day and did not finish until 3 a.m.

In the regional-deciding game later that day, Gates went deep again, hitting his sixth home run of the year and was responsible for two of Arkansas’ five hits.

Gates came to Arkansas prior to the 2017 season after spending two years at Iowa Western Community College where he was a second-team All-America selection and led Iowa Western to the Final Four at the NJCAA World Series.

Reality may not be close to perception for Razorbacks

Andy Hodges
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In college football, it’s not unusual for perception and reality to seldom collide over the course of a season.

This has been interesting during the summer listening to the speculation about Arkansas what’s expected. Most of it simply isn’t digging very deep.

What kind of offense the Hogs were

Bret Bielema made no secret of his desire to ground-and-pound offensively. He even went with the team in black shoes because it looked more “down in the dirt” than the white shoes where the Razorbacks started 1-2 in 2015 and the black shoes suddenly came back.

That was the perception he tried to establish.

Reality was startling different when you look at the numbers. The numbers show that when Jim Chaney was shouldered out the door so was the running game.

In 2013, the Hogs had 58 percent of their offense on the ground, 54 percent in 2014.

When Dan Enos took over the offense, the rushing game dropped to 42 percent in 2015, then 38 percent and 45 percent.

Yet the perception continued this was a team being built to run the ball, control the clock and impose the Hogs’ will on the other team.

Reality was they were running spread formation plays out of a pro-style set. At times they looked good. Most of the time, though, nothing seemed to look right and it all fell apart towards the end of last season.

Players for Bielema’s offense can’t adapt to new one

This is the biggest mistake people are making.

Bielema recruited fairly decent players for the most part. But they didn’t play HIS style in high school. They played Chad Morris’ style.

It almost appeared Bielema’s style was to get these spread players on campus, bulk ’em up and then be mystified when they couldn’t do what they were wanting to do.

Compound that with players were were quick and faster before getting to Fayetteville now were about a step slower and linemen were a half-step behind making the key block in pass protection.

That’s why Morris’ first move was to get the extra weight off and it’s had an effect. Brian Wallace said in the spring he was now starting to move like he did when he was in high school getting the excess weight off.

Wallace is a great example. He was a four-star offensive tackle in high school, the top-rated offensive tackle in Missouri playing at 305 pounds (he’s 6-6, by the way). The Hogs bulked him up to 340 pounds and then wondered why he couldn’t play like he did before.

Wallace told us in the spring he’s at his best around 315 pounds. It made a difference in the way they looked in basic drills compared to last year.

The perception that Morris has to turn over the roster to fit his style isn’t close to the reality the roster was full of guys that played his style until coming to Arkansas.

For most of the players, especially on offense, is the spring was a refresher course and that’s what we’re hearing about the summer workouts and things are moving much faster.

Add a couple of quarterbacks who spent their high school years basically playing Morris’ identical offense and, well, what we see in August is likely going to be light years ahead of what we saw in March.

Arkansas’ schedule is built for success

Thank you, Michigan, for cancelling the home-and-home series. None of the Razorbacks’ non-conference opponents should be favored when they play.

Certainly not Colorado State, who has one of the most inexperienced teams in college football this year.

The Hogs should start the year 3-0. It’ll get a little dicey from there.

A road trip to Auburn may not be as bad as it seems. They open in Atlanta against Washington, then played Alabama State and LSU the week before Arkansas hits town. Gus Malzahn is going to have to do a heckuva job keeping the Tigers up for two of those big games, then the Hogs.

After Auburn comes Texas A&M and new coach Jimbo Fisher. It’s the Aggies.

Arkansas has shown they can play with A&M with three of the last five games going to overtime before the Hogs collapsed.

After a home date with Alabama the next week, the Hogs will play three straight games against teams they should beat in Ole Miss, Tulsa and Vanderbilt.

Then they get a week off before the LSU game while the Tigers play Alabama. The next week they get Mississippi State a week after they play Alabama. Either way those games turn out, a letdown can be expected.

History tells us teams do not play that well after being rolled by the Crimson Tide. Right now I’m not willing to put either of those games in the L column.

Then Arkansas finishes against Missouri where new offensive coordinator Derek Dooley is replacing one of the highest-flying offenses in the league with a pro-style passing game.

We’ll know how well that’s working before that game comes up, but teams going from a wide open spread to a pro-style usually don’t put up points like they did before and it’s almost always a struggle.

I put that game in the W column, along with four nonconference games, Ole Miss and Vandy. There’s seven wins.

Auburn, Texas A&M, LSU and Mississippi State are wildcards right now, in my opinion.

Reality will be how the Hogs do in those four games.

The perception about this team is it’s going to struggle to be bowl eligible, which means winning six games.

The reality is some breaks could put this team at nine or 10 wins on the season.

And, in case you’re wondering, that’s still not the level Morris keeps talking about when he says this team is a long way from reaching.

He’s talking higher than that.

Hogs to be featured on SEC Network takeover Aug. 2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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For the fourth consecutive year, the SEC Network is turning the keys over to the teams, as all 14 Southeastern Conference schools will schedule network programming for a two-week stretch this summer with Arkansas taking over on August 2.

Beginning Monday, July 23, each school will exclusively program a full 24 hours on SEC Network with their picks of classic games, films, ESPN originals, school-produced content and more.

The Razorbacks’ day will feature the Hogs’ run to the men’s basketball national title in 1994 with the national semifinal against Arizona and Duke in the national championship.

The SEC Network documentary 40 Minutes of Hell.

During the SEC Network Takeover, each of the 14 SEC member institutions has the opportunity to create an entire day filled with its greatest moments, iconic victories and university fanfare, including NCAA Championships, SEC Storied films, school PSAs and more. Each school’s appointed date and programming sample can be found below:

2018 SEC Network Takeover Schedule

Georgia – Monday, July 23
• 2018 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships
• 2017 SEC Football Championship
• Kirby Smart All Access SEC Championship
• 2018 Rose Bowl
• Road to the Roses program

Alabama – Tuesday, July 24
• 2018 Sugar Bowl
• CFP National Championship Game

Missouri – Wednesday, July 25
• 2008 Alamo Bowl
• WBB: 2018 Missouri vs. South Carolina
• MBB: 2018 Missouri vs. Kentucky

Tennessee – Thursday, July 26
• 1998 Women’s Basketball Championship
• Tennessee vs. Florida Football (1998)

Texas A&M – Friday, July 27
• 2018 Men’s Basketball game vs. Kentucky
• 2018 SEC Swimming & Diving Championships
• 2011 Women’s Basketball Championship
• 1986 Cotton Bowl vs. Auburn

Ole Miss – Saturday, July 28
• 1997 Motor City Bowl
• 2018 SEC Baseball Championship
• SEC Inside: SEC Baseball Tournament
• 2018 Football vs. Miss. St

Kentucky – Sunday, July 29
• 2018 SEC Men’s Basketball Championship
• 2017 MBB: Kentucky vs. WVU (Big 12/SEC Challenge)
• 2017 Football vs. Tennessee

Vanderbilt – Monday, July 30
• 2014 College World Series
• 2018 NCAA Bowling Championship
• 2018 SEC Women’s Tennis Championship

South Carolina – Tuesday, July 31
• 2011 College World Series
• 2018 Outback Bowl vs. Michigan
• 2018 MBB vs. Kentucky
• 2018 WBB Miss. St vs. South Carolina

LSU – Wednesday, August 1
• Highlights from the SEC Baseball Tournament
• LSU vs. Florida
• LSU vs. Arkansas
• 2017 LSU vs. Texas A&M
• SEC Storied: Maravich

Arkansas – Thursday, August 2
• 1993-94 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Semifinal vs. Arizona
• 1993-94 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship vs. Duke
• SEC Storied: 40 Minutes of Hell

Auburn – Friday, August 3
• 2017 Iron Bowl
• 2018 SEC Men’s Golf Championship
• SEC Storied: Rowdy

Mississippi State – Saturday, August 4
• 2018 SEC Men’s Tennis Championship
• 2017 WBB Semifinal vs. UConn
• 2017 Taxslayer Bowl vs. Louisville
• 2018 Baseball Super Regional vs. Vanderbilt

Florida – Sunday, August 5
• 2007 Men’s Basketball Championship
• Women’s Gymnastics vs. Oklahoma
• 2018 SEC Outdoor T&F Championships
• 2008 BCS Championship vs. Ohio State

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

Yes, it’s time to talk about playing in-state schools again

Andy Hodges
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Another writer brought up the subject, so longtime media cohort Mike Irwin can’t accuse me of stirring anything up this time.

But this week, which is one of the more boring sports weeks of the year — the subject of Arkansas playing the community college in Jonesboro came up again.

Former athletics director Jeff Long basically ducked behind the shadow of Frank Broyles to get away from the issue. Since Frank was against it, then Long said he was, too.

That may have been the only thing of Broyles he used when it was convenient. Whether he actually believed it or not only he knows and he likely doesn’t care now that he’s the new boss at Kansas.

New athletics director Hunter Yurachek should be all over this. Anybody that tells him it’s not a good idea is living in the distant past.

Arkansas State athletics director Terry Mohajir was quick to congratulate Long … and try for a future game.

Terry Mohajir on Twitter

Congrats on the new gig @jefflongKU. You’ll do a great job! Now can we play? Home and Home? Too soon?

Then Florida scheduled South Florida for a three-game series and that got pointed out to Arkansas folks.

Henry Apple on Twitter

See, Arkansas? It can be done! Now quit cowering and schedule Arkansas State! Florida and South Florida agree to future three-game football series starting in 2022 https://t.co/5yEFOtSxLK via @CBSSports

Truthfully, the time has come for the Hogs to play ASU in all sports, not just football. They’ve only met one time in men’s basketball and Nolan Richardson squeaked out a win back in the 1980’s.

This shouldn’t be about just football, but every sport. Throw in women’s basketball, softball, baseball and let ’em come to a track meet if they want.

In my opinion, Broyles’ excuse for not playing in-state schools was silly when he first said it and nothing has changed. In a different day and age, saying he didn’t want to divide the state would fly. Not anymore.

Let’s face it, if Arkansas loses any fans or recruits by playing or even losing a game to ASU, then, well, they have bigger problems than an occasional fan or possible player. Most players are going to play in the SEC and not the Sun Belt if they are really good unless there’s a far more personal reason that makes playing a game not relevant.

And, while we’re at it, the Hogs should also schedule games against Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, too. I mean, really? There’s an issue there?

Now don’t get me wrong. Playing these in-state schools should all happen in Fayetteville.

I wouldn’t even offer them a guarantee, but give them the usual visitor tickets and let them keep the revenue from that. Trust me, they would sell at a premium every one they could get their hands on.

Say it was 7,500 tickets for the game to the visiting in-state schools and they sell them for $100 apiece. That’s $750,000 to play a game in the state, which will have minimal travel cost. They could even make it part of their donors’ ticket packages for an extra bump there, too.

Without knowing all the financial details at the UA, it appears like a win-win.

Even politically, this is a no-lose deal. It’s surprising our elected officials haven’t demanded it before now. That’s happened in Florida and Mississippi in the past, by the way. That’s the only way Florida or Florida State would play Miami. Ole Miss and Mississippi State weren’t happy about playing Southern Miss, but it was forced on them for awhile.

These games should not be played in War Memorial. That would be the Hogs giving up too much. They shouldn’t be playing ANY games in that delapidated wreck of a stadium, but they are at the point now where they can see the light at the end of that tunnel.

No, if those schools want to play the Hogs, come to Fayetteville.

Arkansas has pretty much played every school in the Sun Belt and some in the Southland, even a SWAC school on occasion.

Why not keep the money in state?

Besides, despite what some fluff-talkers like to say, none of those teams would beat Arkansas on the football field more than once every 20 years … if they wanted to keep the series going that long.

In case you’re wondering, the Hogs have lost once since 1920 to a team from the Sun Belt, Southland or SWAC. Yep, in 2012 in Little Rock to Louisiana-Monroe.

Ranked No. 8 in the country (albeit seriously over-rated before the season, opening at No. 10), they collapsed in the the second week.

The program didn’t exactly fall apart. Razorback Stadium was over-flowing the next week against Alabama and the following week against Rutgers before things got a little thin.

And that’s the only time in history the Hogs lost to a Sun Belt team.

No, Arkansas State wouldn’t beat Arkansas. In my opinion they wouldn’t have last year (although, admittedly, I would be counting on an effort like against Texas A&M or Mississippi State as opposed to Coastal Carolina).

A friend in Las Vegas in the legal sports betting business told me this week if the two were playing this year the Hogs would be a 14-point favorite at home right now.

But we won’t know anytime soon exactly how things would play out.

We’ll see if anything changes.

Froholdt, Greenlaw, Ramirez will be at SEC Media Days

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas coach Chad Morris and the senior trio of offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and defensive back Santos Ramirez will represent the Razorbacks at 2018 SEC Football Media Days.

This year the event will be held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia, July 16-19.

Arkansas’ contingent is scheduled to make its rotation through the event from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

With over 1,200 credentialed media members in attendance, Morris and the players will participate in multiple interviews with various media outlets throughout the afternoon.

During the four-day event, the Hall of Fame will be home to the coaches’ primary press conferences and serve as the live broadcast headquarters for both ESPN and the SEC Network.

The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, which is connected to the Hall of Fame, is the host hotel for the event and will house Radio Row and other media interviews and activities.

The 2018 event will mark the first time SEC Media Days will be held outside the Birmingham, Alabama, area since 1985.

Froholdt’s Quick Hits

• Preseason All-American (Phil Steele).
• Enters senior year as the Power 5’s highest-graded returning guard by Pro Football Focus.
• No. 45 on NFL.com’s Top 150 college football players to watch for 2018.
• Team captain last season as voted by his teammates.
• Three-time member of the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.
• Did not allow a sack all season across 389 snaps in pass protection in 2017.

Greenlaw’s Quick Hits

• Preseason All-SEC (Lindy’s, Athlon, Phil Steele).
• Enters senior year with 240 career tackles in three seasons (fourth-most by any SEC player during that span (2015-17)).
• Of his 240 career tackles, 153 have come against SEC opponents for an 8.5 per-game average.
• Formed the only SEC tandem with De’Jon Harris in 2017 to each contribute at least 100 tackles.
• Only six other FBS programs enter 2018 with multiple returning players who recorded at least 100 tackles last season.
• Registered a career-high six games with 10+ tackles last season … Boasts 11 such games across his three seasons (tied for the second-most in the SEC over the last three seasons).

Ramirez’s Quick Hits

• Preseason All-SEC (Phil Steele’s Third Team, Athlon’s Third Team)
• Graduated in December 2017 with a degree in recreation and sport management.
• Team captain last season as voted by his teammates.
• One of three players the country to contribute at least 60 tackles, an interception, eight pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 2017.
• Ball-hawking safety, who last season tied for the team lead in pass breakups (8), led the team in forced fumbles (3) and recorded one interception.
• Finished third on the team and first among defensive backs in tackles (63).

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast : Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast : Wednesday

Van Horn on new contract, Yurachek, recruiting

Andy Hodges
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Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn was in Harrison on Tuesday night with the Razorback Club and the first question from reporters before was about the contract.

“Right out of the chute you hit that one,” Van Horn said, obviously in good spirits.

He wasn’t offended, quickly offering that he and athletics director Hunter Yurachek had talked.

“Yes, we have,” Van Horn said.

It’s clear that just a couple of weeks after a near-miss with a national title against Oregon State in the College World Series, he’s already at work on the next one, but he wasn’t going to make contract negotiations too tough.

“I told him I was good with everything,” Van Horn said about the conversations with Yurachek. “I think everyone knows I want to be at Arkansas. It’s not all about the finances. It’s about being where you want to be to me.”

In his 16th year with the Razorbacks, he has now been in five College World Series with 15 NCAA appearances.

And he’s not interested in going anywhere, just listening to him.

He seemed to indicate the extension would carry through the 2023 season. There would also be options for 2024 and 2025. His current contract runs through 2021 with an annual financial package of $775,000, but bonuses could raise that total.

“I guess if I win enough we get to add some more years,” Van Horn said. “I’ll get a couple years added to that possibly. Then there might be a couple more in there if things go well.”

As we said, it doesn’t appear he’s going anywhere for awhile.

Which is good for Hogs baseball.

 

Tweaks, some throwback with new Hogs’ uniforms

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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PHOTOS FROM RAZORBACK SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS
Arkansas announced some tweaks to the main football uniform for the season Tuesday.

There’s still no word if the white helmets will re-appear or the gosh-awful ugly anthracite (gray) uniforms will re-emerge.

The Helmet

The iconic Razorback helmet is returning to the historic “pearl cardinal” look, most recently sported during the Darren McFadden era.

The Hogs had been wearing a “matte finish” helmet in recent years. While the “pearl cardinal” helmets have a bit more gloss to them, they do not have nearly the sheen seen on the “red chrome” helmets worn in the 2015 Liberty Bowl.

The Jersey

Other than the actual jersey template from Nike being an updated version, the only modification to the jersey is the removal of the “white chest tusks.” This less cluttered look more prominently displays Razorbacks across the chest.

The Pants

The pant stripe was moved up to connect at the waist as opposed to appearing mid leg in the most recent Razorback uniform.

The Cleats

Mostly white cleats will replace the black shoes worn for all but a few games in the past years. In 2015, the Hogs wore white until back-to-back losses to Toledo and Texas Tech brought back the black shoes.

Hogs name Donnenwirth interim assistant soccer coach

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Rob Donnenwirth was announced as the interim assistant coach for Razorback soccer Tuesday afternoon by coach Colby Hale.

Donnenwirth comes from East Carolina where he spent the previous 19 seasons and is the winningest coach in ECU history.

Donnenwirth compiled a 177-150-44 record with the Pirates, producing nine 10-win seasons since 1999 and one conference championship.

He also mentored 86 all-conference performers during his time in Greenville.

“I am very excited to join the Razorback soccer program this fall,” Donnenwirth said. “I have known Colby (Hale) since his days at UCF and have been amazed how he turned this program into a bona fide contender for SEC championships and beyond. This program has a distinct competitive identity and I can’t wait to get started working with the team.”

“We are thrilled to be adding someone of Rob’s caliber and experience to our staff,” Hale said. “We are committed to growing as a program and we know Rob will help us in that.”

Donnenwirth has spent the last 24 years as a collegiate head coach, including five years at North Carolina Wesleyan, his first head-coaching stop.

Combined at those two schools, Donnenwirth has a 239-176-53 (.567) and also served as an assistant coach at James Madison and UMass from 1988 to 1994.

Last year, ECU produced its best start in program history with a 4-0-1 mark and went 5-2-2 in non-conference play, capped by a 0-0 draw with No. 5 Virginia, the Pirates’ first tie against a top-five opponent in program history.

Junior Courtney Cash was named All-AAC Second Team at the end of the year marking the fourth-straight season ECU had an all-conference selection.

Donnenwirth helped ECU transition from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference in 2014 and from there, saw players such as Kendall Frey blossom.

Frey was named to the All-AAC First Team in 2015 after cracking the top five in multiple categories in the record book, closing her career fifth in all-time goals scored (22) and points (22).

Frey was also given All-AAC Third Team recognition as a sophomore in 2013 and received NSCAA Scholar All-South Region honors in 2014.

ECU’s best season in the AAC under Donnenwirth came in 2014 where he guided the Pirates to a 12-8-1 overall mark, reaching the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Frey along with senior defender Kelley Johnson and senior goalkeeper Erika Lenns earned all-conference nods.

In 2013, ECU’s final season in Conference USA, Donnenwirth kicked off the campaign with a milestone, claiming his 200th career victory in a 2-0 win over Davidson on Aug. 23.

The Pirates won at least nine matches for the eighth year in a row, going 9-9-3 with a 5-4-1 mark in C-USA play.

Caitlin Hite became the first freshman in program history to earn all-conference first team honors and the team reached the C-USA Tournament semifinals.

The 2008 season was Donnenwirth’s most successful as he led ECU to the best overall record in program history at 14-4-4 and a share of the C-USA Regular Season Championship.

That year the Pirates finished the C-USA season with a 7-0-4 mark, good for the first unbeaten run through league play since Charlotte went 8-0-2 in 2002.

East Carolina played in its first C-USA Championship game in 2008, but fell to Memphis, 4-1, and narrowly missed out on making the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

At the end of the year, Donnenwirth received his first C-USA Coach-of-the-Year award and was the Soccer Buzz Southeast Region Coach-of-the-Year runner-up.

The conclusion of the 2008 campaign also saw a Pirate agree to the first United States professional contract in program history as Madison Keller signed with the Washington Freedom of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league.

In all, three former players signed professional contracts under Donnenwirth’s tenure at ECU: Amanda Duffy (Sweden `06), Keller and Kimmy Cummings (Ireland, `12).

Prior to arriving at ECU, Donnenwirth spent five years as the head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, N.C.

Under his guidance, the Battling Bishops enjoyed tremendous success, winning four Dixie Conference titles and making three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

In Donnenwirth’s first year as the Bishops as head coach, the team advanced to the NCAA Final Four and finished with a 15-3-3 record.

Chris Webb and Trish Parker, former ECU assistant coaches, were a part of that squad and Parker was named the Division III National Player-of-the-Year.

In his tenure at N.C. Wesleyan, three Bishop players were named All-Americans, two were chosen Dixie Conference Players-of-the-Year and three were picked as the conference’s Rookie-of-the-Year.

Donnenwirth was also recognized several times while at N.C. Wesleyan, earning NCAA South Regional Coach of the Year twice and the Dixie Conference Coach of the Year three times.

Before heading to N.C. Wesleyan, Donnenwirth served as an assistant with the James Madison men’s and women’s teams and the UMass men’s squad.

Outside the college ranks, Donnenwirth has a wealth of experience in Olympic Development Programs (ODP).

He has been part of the United States Region III ODP coaching staff and served eight years as a North Carolina ODP coach with the under-13 and under-15 girls’ teams.

He was formerly the director of the Pitt Greenville Soccer Association’s traveling and recreational programs and is currently president of Soccer Express, a community soccer camp business that has attracted over 3,000 youth and adult campers in the U.S. and Canada.

As a player, Donnenwirth guided West Virginia Wesleyan College to back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 1984 and 1985 and was named a NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 1987 as a goalkeeper. He earned a B.S. in marketing from West Virginia Wesleyan in 1988 and his M.B.A. from James Madison in 1990.

Donnenwirth and his wife, Rosy, have three daughters: Allison, Madison and Carly.

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