As manager of the Year Round Hoops program, Donease will help campers learn to master basketball’s fundamental skills - defense, dribbling, passing, rebounding and shooting. “Coach D” will work with campers in a variety of settings, including after-school camps and parent-and-child clinics, where parents also learn the game’s basics. For older participants Coach D runs a position-specific camp. Whatever the setting, Coach D reminds campers how to be a CHAMP on and off the court: though Confidence, Hard Work, Attitude, Motivation and Passion.

Donease has been basketball operations manager for the Detroit Shock since March 2007, but she was a teacher and coach long before she arrived in Michigan. Donease taught introductory business classes and served as the assistant girls’ basketball coach at a Kansas City, Mo., high school for four years, and later held a similar dual-position at Moberly Area Community College before joining the two-time WNBA champions. She was a head coach for AAU and USSSA teams in the Kansas City area and an assistant coach for the Kansas City Legacy of the National Women’s Basketball League.

The Sedalia, Mo., native played collegiate ball at Central Missouri State University, where she was an honorable mention all-conference selection three times and averaged 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game her senior season. Donease received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business education at CMSU, which is now known as the University of Central Missouri.

More about Coach D
Role Model: Brad Pollitt, my high school coach
Sports Hero: Bob Knight
Favorite Book: “Knight: My Story” by Bob Knight with Bob Hammel
Favorite Movie: “Love and Basketball”
Favorite Types of Music: Gospel and country
Favorite Food: Sushi
Quote to live by: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” - John Wooden