Steve Donahue hired as Penn head coach

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Updated: 9:04 p.m.

Former Boston College coach Steve Donahue has been named Penn basketball's next head coach.

Donahue, a former Penn assistant, started his head coaching career at Cornell, posting a 146-138 record and making three straight NCAA Tournament appearances — including a Sweet 16 trip in 2010.

“I am thrilled to be coming back to Penn as its head men's basketball coach,” Donahue said in a statement released by the school Monday night. “Having been a part of Philadelphia and Penn basketball for the greater part of my life, I have a great passion for this city and this program."

Donahue was hired away from Cornell by Boston College, where he posted a 54-76 record in four seasons on Chestnut Hill. Donahue was fired following an 8-24 campaign in 2013-14.

Donahue's top assistant coach, Nat Graham, is currently on staff at Penn as an assistant coach. While Donahue spent the 2014-15 season working as a TV analyst, Graham chose to coach under the now-departed Jerome Allen.

The Quakers finished 9-19 in 2014-15, occupying sole possession of last place in the Ivy League for the first time in school history. They have not won an Ivy title since 2007. Donahue spent 1990-2000 learning under Fran Dunphy as a Penn assistant coach.

"I spent 10 extraordinary years as an assistant here at Penn working with one of the great head coaches in all of college basketball, Fran Dunphy," Donahue said. "That, combined with my experiences as head coach at Cornell and Boston College, have led me to this distinct opportunity to return the program that I grew up watching to national prominence. I plan to provide the energy and the enthusiasm that will put Penn basketball back atop the Ivy League.”

Donahue will be introduced at a press conference at the Palestra Tuesday.

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